OR 


FATRER 
AI/iST 


WARREAi  LEE  G055 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIN'IL  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


^lLMti<COU^T^^< 


,-7 


a^lJU-cCJ^  /^   ^-71  c^^ 


Digitized  by  tlie  Internet  Arcliive 

in  2010  witli  funding  from 

University  of  Nortli  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/innavyorfatheragOOgoss 


Slar  Stories 

BV 

Marrcn  Ktc  6oss, 

"Mr.  r„,ss  Ii.t;  an  txtreniely  readable  style.  He  tells  liis 
stiiry  in  a  straiglitffiruard  manner,  without  any  atteni|)t  at 
line  writing.  His  descriptions  are  often  dramatic,  and  are 
to  lje  alisc.lulely  depended  upnn  f^.r  historical  accuracy."  — 
A',?i.',j«  /'>,i/isc  >ipt. 

JRD.  A  Bov's  Advent urt's  in  the  Army 
of  iS6i-6^. 

A  story  nf  battle  and  ])rison,  of  peril  and  escape.  I'ully 
illustrated.      ijiim.      C'Lith,   J1.50. 

RECOLLECTIONS  OE  A  P RUGATE. 

A  story  I  if  the  Army  nf  the  I'ol.Hnac.  \\'ith  oyer  So  illus- 
trations ijy   Cli.ii'in  .Hid   .'-iliehon.      Ki.y.il  ,Syo.     (.'loth,  $1.50. 

TOM  CLIETOX ;  or.  IJ'cstt'rn  Bovs  ivith 
Grant  and  Sbcnujn's  Ariiiv. 

Fully  illustrated.     i2mo.     Cloth,  51.50. 

JACK  ALDEN.  A  Storv  of  Advnitnrc 
in  t])c  l^irginia  Campaigns,  i86i-6^. 

A\'ith   Pi  spirited   illustrations   by  P'rank  T.  Merrill.     i2mo. 

Clt.ih,  <i.5o. 

IN  THE  NAFY:  or,  Eathcr  Against  Son. 
A  Storv  of  Navat  AJvintiircs  in  the 
Great  'Civil  War. 

Fully  illustrated,      ij^nv.     C'loth,  $1.50. 


T.  Y.  Crowell  &  Co.,  ^^"^(jsTON.' 


NEW  YORK  AND 


IN    THE    NAVY 


FATHER    AGAINST    SON 


A    STORY    OF    NAVAL    ADVENTURES    IN 
THE    GREAT    CIVIL    WAR,    '61-'65 


WARREN   LEE   GOSS 

AOTHOR    OF    ''JED,"    "  KECOLLEC'TIONS    OF    A    PRIVATE, 
"TOM    CLIFTON,"    "JACK    ALDEN,"    ETC. 


NEW  YORK:   46  East  14th  Street 

THOMAS    Y.    GROWELL    &    CO. 

BOSTON  :  100  ruRCHASE  Street 


copyrioht,  1s0« 
By  Thomas  Y.  Crowell  S:  Co. 


■JD     CHURCHILL     PRESS 
BOSTON 


PREFACE 


The  naval  scenes  of  this  stoiy  are  laid  prin- 
cipally on  the  inland  waters  of  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina  during  our  great  Civil  War. 

The  Dismal  Swamp  Canal  connects  Hampton 
Roads  with  Albemarle  and  Pamlico  Sounds,  and  in 
these  waters  there  is  more  internal  navigation  than 
is  afforded  by  Long  Island  Sound  and  its  rivers. 
The  Neuse,  the  Cowan,  and  the  Roanoke  Rivers 
supply  channels  leading  far  into  the  interior  of  the 
country,  where  railroads  branch  to  the  jnain  routes. 
There  are  numerous  inlets  or  channels  between 
these  inland  seas  and  the  ocean,  through  which 
traders  could  carry  supplies  to  the  insurgents,  and 
where  blockading  vessels  could  not  follow  because 
of  sliifting  channels  and  shallow  water. 

The  hardships  endured  and  great  services  ren- 
dered by  the  sailors  of  our  navy  in  capturing  and 
holding  for  the  Union  these  waters  are  but  little 
understood  or  appreciated ;  for  the  drama  of  war, 
even  during  its  progress,  leaves  upon  the  average 
mind  only  a  few  luminous  points ;  a  few  great 
names  and  a  few  great  victories.  Yet  such  minor 
scenes  as  are  here  delineated,  —  individual  suffer- 

602927 


VI  I'nEFACE. 

iiigs  and  liardsliips.  • — wliicli  lii-  Leliind  the  smoke 
of  war,  uiiilluniined  1)\-  the  o'larc  of  li'reat  battles,  and 
wliieli  can  only  in  part  l)e  deserilx'd,  show,  as  no  sta- 
tistics or  oi'licial  reports  ean,  ^\■hat  Mas  endured  l)y 
those  who  fong'ht  ori  either  side.  Ilunianity  might 
be  less  eager  for  eonliiet  if  the  Ijrilliant  veil  that 
liides  the  hai'dsliips  and  agony  of  war  could  be  torn 
awav,  and  its  details  more  plaiidy  seen.  Not  the 
least  of  these  hardships  in  our  war  M'as  the  mental 
anguish  caused  bv  kindred  lighting  against  kin- 
dred, brother  against  Ijrother  and  hither  against 
son. 

That  i)ortion  of  my  tale  that  attempts  to  mirror 
some  of  these  conditions  has  in  it  more  of  reality 
than  of  hction,  hir  such  incidents  were  constantly 
paralleled  dtiring  the  [)rogress  of  our  Civil  War. 

The  })lot  of  tliis  story  is  (in  [lart)  not  imaginary 
but  real,  and,  were  it  needful,  the  truth  of  most  of 
its  details  might  be  stibstantiated. 

The  moral  of  this  story  is,  that  while  there  is 
but  one  right,  it  is  none  the  less  trtie  that  in  a  re- 
pul)lic  there  must  always  be  many  standpoints  from 
A\hic]i  the  same  questions  mayl)e  viewed,  1>y  minds 
inlluenced  l)y  differing  conditions  of  birth,  educa- 
tion, and  temperament.  Ha})py  are  we  wlien  all 
differences  can  be  settled  by  arbitration  or  an 
appeal  to  the  ballot,  and  not  to  arms. 

It  therefore  becomes  Americans,  while  holding 
fast  to  cherished  convictions,  to  avoid  bitter  discus- 
sions   and   misrepresentations,   and,    ''  with  malice 


PREFACE.  Vll 

toward  none,  with  cl unity  for  all,"  bind  np  the 
wounds  and  cement  the  friendships  and  loves 
between  fellow-countrymen. 

If  I  have  succeeded  in  even  a  small  degree  in 
impressing  these  lessons  of  charity  and  love  upon 
my  youthful  readers,  the  writing  of  this  book  lias 
been  justified. 

W.   L.   G. 

July  4,  1S97. 


OOl^TEIvrTS 


CUAPTEK 

PAGE 

I. 

Fi.siiix(;    AND    Fished    ....... 

,        .               1 

II. 

I'lllL     AT     SciKIOL         ........ 

.     .       13 

III. 

A    Faih  i:e    and    its    Coxsequexcks   . 

,     .       25 

IV. 

]Mv    Fatiiek    leaves   Wiciixou  .... 

.     .       34 

V. 

^\    ]Mysteuy . 

.     .       45 

VI. 

Ox    Board   the    Brig    '^Favorite"   .     . 

.     .       5G 

VII. 

At    Newberxe 

.     ,       G8 

VIII. 

A    Storm    at    Sea 

.     .       82 

IX. 

The    Wreck    of    the    "Favorite"     . 

9:5 

X. 

Ox   A   Barken    Saxd-bak       ..... 

.     .     104 

XI. 

We    make    Discoveries 

.     .     118 

XII. 

We    Grope    in    Darkness 

.     .     132 

XIII. 

We    leave    Chicamacomico 

.     .     144 

XIV. 

Leavixc;    Dixie 

.     .     150 

XV. 

The    Boot    is    on    the    Other    Leg    .     . 

.      .     170 

XVI. 

On    Shore    after   the    Battle 

.      .     184 

XVII. 

Home,    Sweet    Home . 

.     .     197 

XVIII. 

In   the    Navy 

.     .     211 

XIX. 

The    Advent    of   the    "  Merri:\iack  "     . 

221 

XX. 

Iron   meets    Iron 

.      .     23C 

CnXTJ'LXTS. 


CUAPTER 

XXI.  AlTKR    THE    r<)Nrr.iLT 

XXII.  (  )n'   Tin:    ••  Si'i  ri  ii;i:  "■  . 

XXIII.  AriAiK    ()\    Si,(  i:>>i()\viLi.E 

XXIV.  l)..\v.N     jTii:    UivKK        .... 
XXV.  TjiiKn    AM)    C'()M>i::\iNi;i) 

XX\'I.  Em:mii:s,    yi  t    Fkikmis  . 

XXVII.  At    riAMMiTii 

XX\'III.  Tin:    Ai>vi;vr    or    the    '•  Ai,i;em 

XXIX.  In    the    Ene.mv"s    C'dinikv 

XXX.  r.NDEii    Two    Flacjs     .... 

XXXI.  Wn  H    (M  K    Fleet        .... 

XXXII.  Fndeu    thi;    Sikcedn's    ('aim; 

XXXIII.  In    the    1I..si'tiai 


PAGE 

I'lt; 

2."i'.> 


2.SS 

;5ii 


SCO 

o(;;i 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Drawings  by  M.  J.  Burns. 


PAGE 

The    "  iMoNiTOR "  finally    lay   alongside    the    Huge 

"  Merrijiack  "  (p.  242) Frontispiece. 

I  FELT  Phil  holding  me  up 8 

"  Why  don't  you  shoot  me?  "   40 

"  Let  go  that  Rope,  Hez  !  " 99 

"  Hold  on,"  I  said,   "  I  can  tow  the  Raft  " 135 

"Yes,   they're    Uncle    Sam's    Barkers,    an'   no  Mis- 
take " 1(19 

Landing  of  the  U  S.  Troops  at  IIatteras 17.') 

"Take    those    Handcuffs    off    that    Young    Man's 

Wrists  !  " 199 

"Hullo,"    I   said,    "have    you   got   a    Contract   to 

EAT  all  that   Stuff  ?  " 250 

I  took  her  up  again  and  strode  resolutely  to  the 

House 285 

The  River  was  not  Wide,  and  I  was  able  to  reach 

the  Shore  opposite  to  the  Battery 296 

The  Order  came,  "All  down!"  and  we  struck  the 

"  Albemarle  "  like  a  Thunderbolt  ! 375 


IN  THE   NAVY. 


CHAPTER    I. 


FISHING    AND    FISHED. 


I  WAS  najiied  for  my  maternal  grandfather.  It 
was,  however,  a  surprise  to  ni}"  mother  when  on 
my  twelftli  birthday  my  grandfather,  Hezekiah 
Perkins,  after  turning  a  quarter  of  a  doUar  over  in 
his  fingers  a  great  many  times,  gave  it  to  me  with 
repeated  admonitions  al)Out  saving.  Heedful  of 
these  maxims,  I  hastened  to  invest  it  in  a  new  fish- 
line  and  hooks,  in  order  that  I  might  make  it  pay  a 
large  dividend  of  fun,  if  not  of  fish. 

I  was,  as  my  mother  declared,  a  "  chip  of  the  old 
block,"  —  like  my  father,  —  more  fond  of  fishing 
than  of  work. 

Even  Jimmy  Gager,  the  schoolmaster,  with  whom 
I  was  at  times  a  favorite  pupil,  had  accused  me  of 
bringing  to  school  in  my  pocket  more  worms  for 
bait  than  slate-pencils  for  ciphering. 

I  confess  that  the  week  I  received  the  money 
mentioned,  I  was  so  intent  on  cutting  a  good  fish- 
mg-pole,  and  on  other  preparations  for  fishing,  that 
I  lost  sight  of  the  bircli  sticks  which  Master  Gager 


2  FATHER     Ad  A IX  ST     SON. 

kc[)t  iiudi'i"  liis  desk  to  (juickeii  tlie  meinoi'v  of 
l)oys  who,  without  a  Avritteii  excuse,  forgot  to 
go  to  scliooL 

Cue  of  tlie  ti'iiits  of  my  cliaractci'.  if  a  hoy  has  a 
ehavaetcr  at  sucli  an  age,  was  un-  (lis|)ositiou  to 
foi'iu  \"agal)oii(l  associations  ^vith  l;ovs  ot'  all  hinds, 
and  with  dogs.  A  dog  that  had  ajipai'cntly  lost  its 
niastci'  had  singled  nic  out  for  that  distinction,  and 
l)ccanic  1M\' constant  conipainon  and  pet.  Xiy  hither 
gave  him  the  name  of  N'agahoiid  (  whicli  for  con- 
\enience  was  ahhreviated  to  "  \"ag  "" ),  and  declared 
that  he  could  always  tell  where  I  was  ly  the  dog's 
y(d[i,  as  well  as  if  ]  had  a  hell  tied  to  me.  The 
Saturday  after  the  purchase  of  my  new  lish-line, 
with    Vag  at   my  heels,  I   started  on  a  iis]iing-tri[). 

Tlie  city  of  W'ichnor.  \\-here  1  >vas  ho]'n  and  then 
lived,  was  a  ( 'onne(_'licut  t(n\-n  of  ahout  sixteen 
thousand  inhahitauts.  Its  situation  near  the  liead 
of  na\igation  on  the  Wild  River,  hfteen  miles  from 
the  sea,  is  one  of  he\\'ildering  loveliness.  Its 
streets  climh  and  wind  around  Alpine-like  lieights, 
crowned  in  places  hy  foi'est  trees  or  gray  1)ould- 
eis  and  ledges.  Among  these  heautiful  hills  the 
liomes  and  churches  of  its  people  cling  and  nestle 
like  eagles"  nests. 

The  house  in  which  my  parents  lived  was  on 
an  Aeropolis-like  hill  whi(di  rose  from  the  centre  of 
the  town,  and  from  which  could  lie  seen  two  nar- 
row tributary  streams,  one  on  either  side,  quietly 
mingling  Avith  the  hroader  jiver,  Avhich  flashed  and 


FISHIXd    AXl)    FfSHED.  3 

gleamed  like  molten  silver  on  its  way  to  the  sea. 
Its  foliage-covered  banks  Avere  as  varied  and  l^ean- 
tiful  as  ever  the  light  shone  upon  in  any  clime 
under  the  sun. 

My  father,  who  was  Ijy  hirth  a  North  Carolinian, 
was  accustomed  to  sa3%  for  the  purpose  of  teasing 
my  mother,  who  was  a  native  of  the  town,  tliat  in 
selecting  its  site  the  original  Puritan  settlers  had 
not  thought  of  its  romantic  loveliness,  hut  of  the 
more  practical  fact  that  they  could  get  house  lots 
on  Iwth  sides  of  the  land. 

On  the  Saturday  mentioned  I  started  out  fishing, 
without  thought  of  the  l^eauty  of  the  morning  or 
of  the  surrounding  scenery,  and  was  soon  on  the 
wharf,  absorbed  in  my  favorite  pastime,  and  wait- 
ing; for  nibbles  and  bites. 

Wliile  fishing  remained  good,  nothing  distracted 
my  attention.  I  had  at  first  very  good  luck,  but 
after  a  time  the  fish  ceased  to  bite  ;  even  then,  with 
Izaak  Walton-like  patience,  I  still  persisted.  But 
Vag,  yelping  with  impatience  at  my  inactivity, 
pranced  around  tlie  wharf  and  then  returned  and 
looked  solemnly  into  the  water.  Although  I  kept 
on  fishing,  my  attention  wandered  to  a  steamer 
from  New  York,  which  Avas  landing  its  passengers 
at  an  adjacent  dock.  With  one  eye  on  my  bob, 
I  watched  a  flood  of  people  pouring  over  the 
gang-plank. 

There  was  one  passenger  who  did  not  land  in 
the  ordinary  manner.    While  the  tickets  were  being 


4  FA  I  in:  It    AdAixsT   snx. 

taken  at  the  [»lank",  a  little  rag'anuil'liii  elimhed  out 
on  the  l)(n\'  of  tlie  steamer,  and  Avitli  an  astonishing 
jump  landed  on  his  feet  near  me. 

'•  W]ie\\',""  I  ejaeulated  adjniiingiy,  ''l)ut  that 
was  a  jnm|) ! '" 

The  hoy  made  no  i'e})ly,  hut  gathering  up  his 
oidy  haggage,  a  hox  containing  hoot-hlaehing 
equipments,  turned  to  the  outroming  }»assengei's, 
and  with  "  lUack  yei'  hoots,  sir?""  spoken  in  an 
energetic,  nianner,  hegan  that  occupation,  and 
served  a  nund>cr  of  customers  Ijcfore  they  left 
the  A\'harf. 

After  a  while  he  sauntered  towards  me  and  Vag, 
jingling  a  goodly  nundier  of  silver  pieces,  which 
he  had  received  for  his  work.  Patting  the  dog, 
who  seeme(l  to  recogni/.c  in  him  at  once  a  con- 
genial fcdloAV-vagahond,  he  said  : 

^'  Did  n"t  I  catch  'em  on  the  fly?  '" 

Thinking  he  referred  to  his  jump  from  the 
steamer,  I  said : 

"It  was  a  hig  jump.  Why  didn't  you  come 
down  the  gang-plank?  You  might  have  hroken 
your  neck  hy  jumping  in  that  Avay.'" 

''Like  ter  jump;  h'sides,  hadn't  no  money,  an' 
them  fellers  at  the  })lank  would  'a"  l)ooted  me  if 
they  "d  ketcdied  me  without  tlie  pastel)oard."' 

"  What 's  })astel)oar(l  ?  "*  I  inquired,  not  undei- 
standing  his  figure  of  speech. 

"  Ticket,"  he  responded  ;  and  then  asked,  "  Got 
any  nibljles  ?  " 


FISHING    AND    FISHED.  5 

"  Yes,"  I  replied,  "  and  fish  too ;  look  in  that 
basket,"  and  I  dis[)layed  a  goodly  nnml^er  of  perch 
and  snekers. 

''  Better  fishin'  than  in  Ne'  Yo'k,"  he  said. 
"  Say,  can  I  take  this  fish-line  \\    fish  ? '" 

I  assented  with  a  nod,  when  he  helped  himself 
to  bait  and  began  fishing  as  if  it  were  his  only 
thonght  in  life. 

"•  Where  did  yon  come  from?  "  I  inqnired. 

"  Ne'  Yo'k,"  he  responded,  with  the  pecnliar 
pronnnciation  of  the  Bowery. 

'"■  Yonr  folks  let  yon  go  'ronnd  alone  ? "  I 
inqnired  :    ""  mine  would  n't." 

"  Ain't  got  none." 

"No  what?" 

"  No  folks  ;  old  gran'  died  t'  other  day,  had  n't  no 
place  t'  stay,  an'  the  cops  got  after  me  t'  send  me 
away  t'  the  Island ;  so  I  come  on  here." 

"Where  you  going  to  stay?"'  I  inqnired;  and 
then  added:  "  Better  go  up  to  our  house.  Mother '11 
give  you  some  supper  an'  you  can  sleep  with 
me." 

"See  anything  green?"  said  the  little  fellow, 
pulling  down  the  corner  of  his  eye.  "  You  can't 
stick  me.  See  this,"  he  said,  jingling  the  silver  he 
had  in  his  pocket ;  "  made  that  in  a  jiffy ;  goin'  t' 
sleep  'round  here  somewhere  —  don't  see  any  cops." 

"  What 's  cops  ?  " 

"Why,  p'lice,  of  course;  them's  cops." 

During  this  conversation  I  took  in  the  person- 


6  FATHER    AGAiyST    SOX. 

alitv  r»f  tilt'  ra^-aninlTiii.  His  clotliinc;-  consisted 
of  ti'ouscrs.  murli  t(.(>  lai'^'c  f(ir  liim.  lield  \\\)  hy  a 
siiiL^'lt'  suspfiidcr :  a  raLi'^cd  sliirl  that  scarctdy 
lii'oke  joints  willi  liis  ti-i»nscrs  :  wliilr  a  sti'aw  liat, 
tlic  torn  liriiii  of  ^\']li(•ll  ^-ot  constantly  in  his  eyes, 
snniiounti'(l  his  lu-ad.  Ilic  i'.\})r('ssion  ol  his  fare 
was  very  pleasant,  and  in  it  I  I'cnu'nilicr  now  tlid'c 
^\■as  a  mingling  of  good-natnre,  shrcwdiU'ss,  and 
decision. 

1  gi\'e  these  seeniingh-  trivial  details  hecanse 
the\'  made  an  impi'(\ssion  on  me.  yonng  as  I  was, 
and  also  hecanse  withont  this  new  aeqnaintanee  I 
slionld  not.  in  all  prohahility,  he  here  to  t(dl  this 
storw  The  afternoon  approached  and  ^\■e  eon- 
tinned  to  talk  and  lish.  althongh  the  iish  had 
ceased  even  to  nihhle. 

After  a  long  silem  e  my  conn'ade  said.  "  Le 's 
go  in  swinnnin".  ' 

''•No,'"  I  responded,  "  nn  tther  says  I  can't  go 
into  the  water  until  I  learn  to  sAvim." 

Pliil  Gurlev,  for  that  he  hiformed  me  was  '-all 
the  name  he  had."  gave  a  half  langh  ;ind  sniff  of 
disdain :  then,  after  a  moment's  attention  to  his 
nibl)leless  hoh,  said,  '"('an  y"  hox? 

"Yes,"  I  responded,  "father  has  taught  me  to 
l»ox  some,  and  gives  me  fencing  lessons  too  some- 
times." 

"  Ever  seen  a  real  light  ?  "  asked  Phil. 

"No,"  I  replied.  "  TMd  y(»n?"and  then  added, 
"Father  savs  't  isn't    manlv   to  light,   "less   some 


FISHING    AND    FISHED.  7 

one  hits  you  ;  then  to  promote  peace  you  ninst  liit 
'em  back  so  hard  that  they'll  never  want  to  strike 
any  one  again." 

"  I  see  the  fight  l)etween  tlie  Xe'  Yo'k  Chicken 
an"  the  Bully  Plug,"'  said  Phil.  ''The  Xe'  Yo'k 
C'liicken  got  knocked  out;  made  me  sick.  I  never 
begins  a  fight,  but  I  don't  "low  no  duffers  to  puneh 
me.  Xo,  siree  ! "'  —  then  added,  ••  Ia"  's  get  into  that 
boat,"  pointing  to  a  little  craft  with  her  sail  up. 
••  I  see  a  fish  break  water  out  there." 

Suiting  the  action  to  his  words,  lie  began  to 
slip  down  the  rope  that  held  the  l)oat  to  the 
wharf,  and  I,  forgetting  the  often-repeated  admo- 
nitions of  my  father  to  keep  out  of  Iwats,  fol- 
lowed. 

I  had  just  got  aboard  when  I  noticed  tAVO 
important  facts  :  first,  that  the  rope  had  in  some 
way  slipped  over  the  h^Av  rounded  post  of  the 
wharf  and  we  were  drifting  Avith  the  tide ;  and, 
second,  that  my  father  was  just  coming  down  the 
AAdiarf,  probaljly  in  search  of  a  boy  wdio  had  gone 
fishing  that  morning  and  had  forgotten  to  return 
for  dinner. 

My  father,  although  kind  and  forbearing,  would 
tolerate  no  disobedience  of  his  orders,  and  I  feared 
his  displeasure  should  he  find  me  in  the  act.  So  I 
hastily  tried  to  pass  Phil  with  the  intention  of 
getting  behind  the  sail,  just  as  a  flaw  of  wind 
struck  it.  The  narrow  boat  tipped,  and  overboard 
I  went,  clutching  at  air  and  water. 


8  FA  Til  Ell    AC  ATX  ST    SOX. 

.Vs  I  went  uikUt  ^\•alel■  tlir  second  time  T  seemed 
to  hear  my  motlier's  \-(iice  sa\iiig, ''  Ilez,  how  eoiild 
jou?"'aiid  I  h'licw  iiothiiin'  moiv  until  1  felt  I'liil 
lioldini;'  me  up  and  shoiiliiin'  for  me  to  caldi  liold 
of  tlie  L;'un\\alt'  of  tiic  lioat  instead  of  himself  :  and 
\\as  eonseious  ihal  \'a^'.  m\-  [)oor  di\i4',  was  trying' 
to  h(d[)  hy  swiminiiiL;'  frantieallv  ai'onnd  me,  and 
yeliiing.  I  aftei'wards  h'arned  tliat  when  I'liil  saw 
me  g'o  o\ei-l)oai'd  lie  seizetl  an  oai',  and  inniping 
with  it  to  my  I'eseue  eanght  me,  and  with  the  aid 
of  the  oar  got  me  to  the  lioat,  \\liieh  fortnnately 
liad    heen    Itronght    near    ns    l»v    the    wind. 

There  ^\"as  a  hnstle  of  excitement,  and  a  circle  of 
people  ai'onnd  me,  wlu-n  I  regained  (■onscionsness. 
They  were,  as  T  thonght,  }innishing  me  hy  i-oUing 
me  over  a  harrel.  I  ^\'as  at  last  ahle  to  make  them 
nnderstand  that  I  was  alive,  hy  yelling,  '•  Le'  me 
go,  an'   T  won't  do  so  again.'" 

The  ineident  had  (»ne  important  result  l)esides 
saving  me  from  the  A\'ater,  and  that  was  that  my 
father  took  Phil,  as  he  termed  it,  ''home  to  di'V," 
clothed  him  in  a  dry  snit  of  my  clothes,  and  in 
some  way  persnaded  him  to  remain  at  our  house. 

The  part  Phil  had  taken  in  my  rescue  drew  favor- 
al)le  attention  to  him,  and  the  eity  "'Daily  XeAvs  " 
had  a  seare  head-line  in  its  next  morning's  issue, 
with  tlie  caption,  "  A  RAGCIED  HEPvO,"  giving 
with  some  detail  an  account  of  m}'  rescue. 

Neighbors  fond  of  excitement  and  gossip  dropped 
in  to  talk   the  matter  over  with  my  mother,  and 


FISHINC    AND    FISHED.  9 

to  bring  goodies  to  the  suppDsed  invalid,  nntil 
ni}'  father  faeetiouslj  proposed  to  lure  a  man  to 
help  Andy  Ca  mulatto  servant-ljoy  that  he  had 
hrought  Avith  him  from  the  South)  do  the  eating. 
Among  these  callers  was  a  eliildless  lady,  Mrs. 
Josephus  Xonfit,  a  widow  of  independent  fortune, 
distinguished  among  her  neighl)ors  as  a  i)rominent 
memher  of  the  State  Peace  Society. 

After  one  or  two  visits,  in  which  she  talked 
much  to  Phil,  ]\Irs.  Nonfit  brought  lier  brother, 
who  talked  with  him  as  if  to  test  his  intelligence. 
Finally  she  proposed  that  he  live  with  her  and  do 
errands  and  light  chores.  In  payment  for  this  ser- 
vice she  would  clothe  him  and  send  him  to  school, 
"so  long,"  she  added,  ''  as  we  can  agree."" 

Phil  had  been  somewhat  nervous  at  first  at  the 
attention  shown  him,  and  confidentially  told  me  he 
was  afraid  the  cops  Avould  get  after  him  ;  but, 
gaining  confidence  in  the  people  who  showed  him 
so  much  kindness  and  sympathy,  after  asking  my 
fatlier's  advice  he  assented  to  the  proposal. 

Thus  it  was  that  Phil  became  my  neighbor,  and 
before  long  my  most  intimate  friend  ;  and  although 
my  mother  demurred  at  my  constant  association 
with  him,  my  father  replied,  ''  I  played  with  our 
servants  when  I  was  young,  and  I  'd  share  my  last 
dollar  with  that  boy  Andy." 

"•  You  always  call  him  a  1)oy,"  said  my  mother, 
"but  he  is  a  man  grown." 

"  That  is  what  we  at  the  South  call  all  of  our 


10 


]'\ 1 7 II K /!   a<;a IX s t   snx. 


iiiiilc  si'i'\;iiits.""  cxiilaiiicd  my  fatlici;  and  llicn 
Tcsuiiiiii<_;'  said.  •'  1 1  docs  n'l  liurt  a  lad  to  pla\'  with 
aii\'  ]<iiid  of  l)()ys  so  Imi'^  as  lir  lias  a  pri ipcr  spirit. 
J'liil  si'ciiis  tn  nil'  ti)  !)»■  a  ^ood  kind  of  fellow",  and  I 
soincliow  tliiiik  that  lir  conies  of  L;do(l  stoek.  I)id 
you  notice  tlie  otlier  day  lie  wouldn't  take  tlie 
nioncN'llie  jMMijile  wanted  to  qive  to  liini.  liecause, 
as  lie  said,  lie  liad  done  nothing'  for  it  7  It  f^eems 
to  nie  that  is  the  kind  of  spirit  that  any  gentlenuiir.s 
Son  niiL;'ht  he  proitd  o!'."" 

A  word  of  exjilanatloii  hei'e  seems  in  order  fe- 
g'ai'diiiL;'  our  family.  My  father,  Kufus  Johnstone, 
.[]■..  while  at  a  (^oiniecticut  colle^-e.  had  made  the 
ae(piaintance  of  Aliss  IJose  I'erklns  — afterwar<ls 
my  mother —  while  slie  was  NusitiiiL;-  her  aunt  at 
the  town  in  which  the  eolleL;!'  was  located.  The 
acipiaintaiiee  thus  formed  resnlte(l  in  a  marria^'e 
without  the  I'onsent  of  the  parents  of  either. 

When  Rufus  Johnstone.  Jr..  iid'ormed  Unfits  John- 
stone, Sr.,  of  his  marriaLi'e.  no  answer  was  made  to  the 
letter  exce[)t  throtiyh  a  law\'er.  who  wrote  :  '"  ^Ir. 
Iiiifus  Johnstone  desires  me  to  eommtmieate  for 
your  information  that  he  will  hereafter  fitrnish  yoii 
with  no  money  and  will  pay  no  debts  of  your  eou- 
traetin^-.  lie  also  desires  me  to  say  that  there  is 
an  unexpended  halanee  helonging  to  yon  as  an  in- 
heritance from  yonr  mother,  an  account  of  which 
will  he  n'iven  and  the  money  turned  oyer  to  yon 
wheneyer   a[)plie(l    for   in    propel'  form.'" 

From   the   tenor  of  this  letter  Unfus  Johnstone, 


FISHlNa    AND    FISHED.  11 

Jr.,  iiiferi'od  that  his  father  A\-as  not  })lease(l  with  his 
niarriagi'.  It  proved,  however,  a  hjve  marriage  as 
well  as  a  love  luateh,  and  neither  of  the  eontraeting 
parties  had  oeeasion  to  repent  at  leisure  of  that 
whieli  had  been  consuniniated  in  liaste. 

My  father  and  mother  had  come  to  Wiehnor, 
and  at  the  time  when  this  story  opens  were  living- 
on  a  small  estate  whieh  was  my  mother's  hy  inheri- 
tance. 

My  maternal  grandfather,  of  whom  I  have  already 
made  mention,  was  a  nuin  mIio,  hy  shrewd  manage- 
ment and  penuriousnt'ss,  had  got  together  what 
was  in  those  days  thought  to  l)e  a  large  property. 
He  grudgingly  })aid  money,  and  had  never  l)een 
known  until  the  incident  recorded  in  a  foregoing- 
page  to  give   away  anything. 

When  liis  daughter  IJose  came  to  Wiehnor  with 
her  husband,  he  offered  to  the  young  couple  neither 
help  nor  interference. 

The  year  after  their  marriage  I  was  born,  and  my 
father  found  himself  without  trade  or  profession, 
and  with  but  a  few  hundred  dollars  in  money  and 
the  estate  mentioned  as  my  mother's. 

Fortunately  the  care  and  control  of  money  were 
largely  intrusted  to  my  mother,  wdio  had  the  Yan- 
kee gift  of  management  and  economy  in  an  unusual 
degree,  and,  as  my  father  used  to  say,  "  could  buy 
with  both  sides  of  a  dollar." 

I  never  heard  a  tart  or  unpleasant  Avord  pass  l)e- 
tween  them  but  once,  and  that  was  when  my  father 


12  FATHER    AGAINST    SOX. 

liad  referred  to  the  stock  joke  that  Connecticut 
people  made  wooden  luuns  and  nntniegs.  Then  my 
motlier  sliarply  res[)onded  ])y  saying,  "•Yes,  l)Ut  we 
liave  to  go  South  to  sell  theui,  as  tliere  are  no  New 
England  peo[)Ic  stu})id  eiiongli  to  l)ny  such  wares." 
My  fatlicr,  at  this  answer,  at  hrst  tluslied  witli 
vexation,  l)Ut  hnalh'  laughingly  said,  ''There's  one 
little  nutmeg  that  is  not  Avooden,  l)ut  all  spiee  right 
through,  and  that  is  my  \\it'e  I  " 


PHIL    AT.   SCHOOL.  13 


CHAPTER    11. 


PHIL     AT     SCHOOL. 


Phll  at  once  began  g'oing  to  the  same  district 
school  that  I  did.  He  had  previously  learned  to 
read  and  write,  and  when  questioned  as  to  ho^^'  lie 
learned  said  his  fatlier  had  l)eg'un  to  teach  him 
and  he  had  picked  up  the  rest.  All  lie  could 
remember  about  his  father  more  than  this  was  of 
there  being  a  crowd  at  the  house  where  he  lived, 
of  his  mother's  crying  as  if  her  heart  would  Ijreak, 
and  that  he  never  saw  his  father  after  that. 

Of  his  mother  his  memory  was  more  distinct :  he 
remembered  that  she  was  continually  crying,  and 
that  one  day  when  she  lay  on  her  Ijed,  as  he  thought 
asleep,  he  tried  to  awaken  her  because  he  was  hun- 
gry, and  was  told  she  was  dead. 

From  this  account  it  was  concluded  by  father 
that  both  of  Phil's  parents  were  dead. 

The  only  thing  Phil  had  that  had  belonged  to 
his  mother  was  a  small  picture  of  her,  in  a  gold 
locket.  My  father  suggested  keeping  this  in  a 
safe  place,  as  it  miglit  sometime  be  important  as  a 
means  of  Phil's  indentification. 

A  neighbor  was  captain  of  a  coaster  running  to 
New  York  and  other  places,  and  on  hearing  Phil's 


14  FA'lIll.li    ACMXST    SOX. 

liistdi'v  Dl't'eriMl  l(»  tal-ic  liiiii  to  New  ^  nrk  soiiict iiiic 
tt)  see  if  ;iii\lliiiiL;'  iiKirc  coiiM  Ik-  Iciiriu'd  of  liis 
paiviitaLit-'.  l»ul  tliis  was  iidt  tliou^lit  at  the  tiiiic  Id 
l)c  advisable. 

NfitluT  IMiil  iiiii'  I.  as  tlicsr  }iaL;\'S  will  ilisclosc. 
was  a  iihhU'I  1)()\-.  so  f,ii'  as  i-(iii(luct  was  coiicfnit'd. 
I'liil  was  (jiiick  t('iii[HTc(l.  wliilr  1.  iIioul;']!  sln\\-  to 
wratli  and  in  tlic  main  L;-ood  icin[it_'iH.'(l.  was,  if  pro- 
voked too  far.  sidijt'ct  to  lits  of  un^'ovrrnalilo  ra^T, 
A\liicli  ( irandfatlu'r  Pcrl<ins  dcnoininattMl  "a  sla^■l'- 
lioldcr's   tt'nipcr."" 

A  1)(»\'  lias.  I  sujipost'.  till'  saxa^t'  instiricls  of  the 
original  man.  and  teachers  and  }»areiits  are  tlie 
ordained  instrnnieiits  for  irainiiiL;-  or  snlidninn' 
thesi'  instincts.  Xeithei'  Phil  noi'  I  was  an  excep- 
tion  to   this   rule. 

(  )n  our  wav  to  school  lie  often  made  in(piiries 
which  showed  that  his  mind  was  agitated  over 
problem.s  suggested  by   his  new  surroundings. 

"Does  some  of  your  togs  hurt  you,  llez?""  he 
asked,  with  a  wig'gle  and  twist  arul  grimace, 
and  with  his  haud  to  his  shirt-haud  to  illustrate. 
'']Mine  does,  an'  the  shirt  scratches  me  all  over 
sometimes."' 

'*  They  starch  "em  all  tner.  I  guess,""  I  explained. 
'' Thev  do  mine  sometimes:  hut  they  dou"t  mean 
to,   though."' 

"Do  vou  have  to  eat  with  a  fork,  au"  sit  U}t  to 
the  tahle  as  stiff  as  a  lam[t-post  ?  ""  again  in(piired 
IMiil.     ••  I  have  to  —  won"t  let  me  eat  fast  wheu  1  'n\ 


PHIL    AT    SCHOOL.  15 

huno'i'v.  ]\Iann  [so  lie  call(Ml  Mrs.  Noniit]  comhs 
my  hair  an"  scrul)s  my  face,  an'  tliiiiks  it  "s  awful 
if  I  get  mv  linger-iiails  dirty.  Is  your  marm  so 
partic'lar?  " 

"  Yes,"  I  said  liesitatingly,  for  my  mother  had 
intermittent  seasons  of  being  very  partieuhu'. 
""When  she's  l)nsy  she  ain't  so  fussy  aljout  me. 
She  's  quilting  now,"  I  said,  showing  Pliil  my  very 
dirty  hands,  "  and  lets  me  off  light." 

That  a  ])oy  revolts  against  discipline  and  soap  and 
water,  and  gravitates  toward  mud-[»uddles,  dirt,  and 
danger,  to  my  mind  shows  that  nature  is  not  a  safe 
gnide  for  him. 

Civilization  consists  of  an  attempt  to  take  crnde 
nature  out  of  hoys  and  other  savages  and  refine  it. 

That  boys  can  be  disciplined  to  keep  the  peace, 
wear  whole  clothes,  give  attention  to  cleanliness, 
study  and  work,  is  one  of  the  wondei'S,  and  I  al- 
most said  miracles,  of  the  achievements  of  civiliza- 
tion and  of  Christianity.  For  Christianit}",  wlien 
brought  down  to  practice,  is  in  great  part  the  put- 
ting of  one's  better  self  in  dominion  over  his 
natural  savage  self,  which,  as  Grandfather  Perkins 
often  said  at  prayer  meeting,  ''  is  as  prone  to  evil 
as  the  sparks  fly  upward." 

For  illustration :  the  natural  boy,  before  being- 
broken  to  the  home  harness,  loves  to  go  with  his 
feet  untrammeled  in  summer,  and  to  wriggle  his 
toes  in  the  nuid  and  sand,  and  is  never  so  proud  as 
when  he  has  a  rao'  on  a  stubbed  toe.     He  loves  to 


It;  FA'J1/J:R    Af.'AlXS'f    SOX. 

cliiiii)  ;i  trt'c  liftlcr  tli;iii  lie  likes  ^dod  clotlics.  for  is 
]i(>l  natmv  one  \':ist  ^'yuiiiasiiini.  iiiipclliii;.;'  bovs  to 
muscular  cxcrtioii  '/  Should  he  lie  uiistiiilc'(lly 
lilauit'd.  as  lie  oltrii  is.  Ix'causc  his  iustiucts  ai'c  at 
WAV  with  iiiattTual  auxictx'  to  keep  him  clrau.  aud 
liis   (dotht's   ami   cutiidc    whoh.'  '.' 

"  I)oys,""  Amly  oitcii  said,  'Ms  powi'rl'ul  I'oii"  olj 
I'aisiu'  lui-tioiis  an"  dirt."" 

Again,  the  licst  of  l»o\s  and  men  and  uations 
lV(d,  \\ln'n  di'i\(_'ii  to  the  wall  li\'  lirutal  bulhdng, 
that  they  must  light  in  the  inlci-cst  of  peace. 
Instiuct  in  cither  case  leads  us  to  hit  ihe  other 
l'ell(»\\'  so  hard  that  he  will  not  want  to  liit  us 
ayaiu.  (  hrist  teaches  us  to  foi-hi'ai;  and  return 
good  for  e\'il  :  Iml  who  will  restrain  evil  if  it  is 
encoui'aged   1)\'   uon-i'csistaiice  ? 

IjoVS  should  Hot  l>e  taught  to  Itecome  men  tf)0 
soon,  and  thus  outgrow  nuudi  that  is  uiunixeil  love- 
ableness  iulu'reut  in  them,  for  they  can  never  be 
boys   ag'ain. 

In  school  ueithei'  Phil  nor  I  was  anvthing  more 
than  moderateh"  good.  "  ( )ur  vouthful  hearts  for 
learning  Imrned ""  less  than  for  a  holiday.  It  was 
a  serious  though  undebated  question,  as  it  ever 
will  be  with  l)oys.  w  hat  [»arents  and  guardians  are 
for  exce[)t  to  feed  and  house  boys  and  trou1)le  them 
b}'  being  fussy  about  them. 

Phil,  especially.  Iiad  led  tlu'  free,  untrammeled 
life  of  a  vagabond  in  a  great  city  so  long  that 
sometimes  his  guardian   seemed   to  him  a   kind  of 


rillL    AT    SCIIUUL.  17 

doinostie  ''cop,"  to  check  fiui  and  administer  re- 
minders  that  he   was   under  surveillance. 

I  have  hcen  tlius  particular  in  my  estimate  of 
Phil  and  myself  l»ecause  I  want  my  l)oy  readers  to 
understand  that  Phil  was  a  real  l>oy,  and  not  a 
Sunday-school-book  lioy  — ini  author's  creation  and 
not  nature's.  This  is  not  an  a|)olog'y  for  his  wrong- 
doing, but  a  simple  statement  of  facts. 

One  day,  not  long  after  Phil  began  his  attendance 
at  our  school,  we  both  had  to  stay  in  at  recess  for 
being  late,  on  account  of  stopping  to  clind)  a  tree 
to  inspect  a  squirrel's  nest. 

One  of  the  scholars  was  a  neighbor's  boy,  named 
Dudley  Burton.  He  was  two  years  older  than 
Phil,  and  a  head  taller  and  e(jrrespondingly  larger 
than  either  of  us.  When  Ave  went  to  the  play- 
ground that  noon,  Dudley,  evidently  presuming 
that  after  punishment  neither  of  us  would  com- 
plain to  the  teacher,  began  to  pull  Pliil  roughly 
by  the  jacket  collar,  and  to  say  with  sneering, 
tantalizing  emphasis,  ''  Wharf  rat  I  Wharf  rat ! 
Wharf  rat !  " 

Phil,  with  flushed,  piteous  face,  said  to  me, 
"  Marm  would  n't  like  to  have  me  fight  or  I  'd  give 
him  one  on  the  nose.  She  said  this  morning  I 
must  always  be  a  little  peacemaker. 

"  Yes,"  I  said,  "  fighting  is  disgraceful ;  "  while  I 
must  confess  that  all  the  time  I  was  itching  to  get 
hold  of  the  bully.  "  Mother  says  so,  but  father 
thinks  it  is  our  duty  to  resent  bad  treatment  some- 


18 


FATlIi:n    ACAIXST    SOX. 


times,  otlier\\'is('  Liillirs    witiild   I'lilc  rlic  \\()i'l(l    mid 
yoiid    pr(.)|)li'    !)(_■    ;it  a    (liscoiiiit."' 

Ill  the  afteriiodii  I)u(lle\'  IJnrtoii.  or,  as  tin'  Ikivs 
called  liiiii  lichiud  liis  liack,  '•  liulh^  iJuiloii.""  was 
\-ery  [>i-(i\(.kiiiL:; :  lie  nut diily  ealled  J'liil  had  names, 
1)11 1  [Hilled  liislial  iVoiii  his  head  and  Irainpled  it  under 
h)(it.  I  ^\'as  sure  from  PhiTs  llushe(|  hiee  that  uotli- 
iiin'  hut  his  :_;-()(id  rooliitioii  he[)l  him  from  H^'htiiio'. 

'Idiat  iii^'ht  as  he  M'alked  t  In  >UL;htfulh"  hy  my 
side  lie  said,  '•  1  siippiise  I  )ud  thdU^ht  I  was  afraid, 
hut  1  ain  t  .L^'nin"  to  L;'et  into  a.  mess  an"  ha\e  mai'iu 
feel  had,  would  you,  Ilez?"' 

"No.""  T  said  hi'sitatin^ly.  "•  it  wouldn't  he 
pi'o])ei'.""  And  yet  all  the  time  I  felt  as  if  I 
would   like   to  pound    Dud. 

"  I  'ni  i;'oin"  to   tell    marm  ahout  liim.""  said    Phil 
'•an"  see  what  she  thinks:    if   "t  wa'n't  fur  niakin' 
marm  feel  had,  1  "d  puneli  him  I     I  )o  \'ou  think  she  *d 
really  eare  ? "" 

••  ( )li,  my  I  ""  I  said:  "shehelongs  to  the  Peace 
Society,   and   they   don't   helieve   in   iiyhting-  I  *' 

'•'Well,"  said  Phil,  after  a  moment's  silence,  and 
kicking  at  a  stone  in  his  way,  '"  nohody  was  e\'er  so 
good  to  me  as  marm  is.  exce})t  your  marm  when  I 
Avas   wet  that  time,  an"   I  'm  goin'   to  l)e  good."' 

.Vt  recess  on  tlie  Saturday  h)re!ioon  foilowdng, 
Burton  threatened  to  strike  Phil  with  a  cat-stick, 
as   we  1)oys   tlien  called  a  l)at. 

"  Stop  that,  lUirton  I ""  I  exclaimed,  picking  up 
another  bat. 


PHIL    AT    SCHOOL.  19 

"Two  of  yer,  liey  ?  T\^vliaps  you  Avant  to  pick  a 
quarrel,"  said  Burton  in  a  sneering  tone. 

"  Xo,''  I  said,  "■  l)ut  ^\'e  ^\■ant  you  to  stop  Imlly- 
ing." 

Just  then  the  hell  rang  and  [lut  a  stop  to  furtlier 
angry  talk. 

On  Saturday  afternoon  there  was  no  school,  and 
the  boys  gathered  on  the  village  green  to  i>lay 
'"•  Four  Old  Cat,"  a  game  similar  to  Ijase  ball,  but 
not  so  intricate. 

In  selecting  })layers  I  was  appointed  to  choose  on 
one  side  and  Dudley  lUirton  on  the  other.  The 
cat-stick  or  l)at  A\'as  thrown  up,  caught,  and  first 
my  hand  and  then  Dudley's,  alternately,  was  closed 
around  it  one  al)ove  the  other,  to  determine  first 
choice  of  players.  It  resulted  in  my  being  able  to 
get  four  fingers  on  tlie  cat-stick  last.  This  should 
have  given  me  the  first  choice,.  Ijut  Dudley  jerked 
the  bat  from  \w\  hand  and  declared  that  I  \1  cheated. 
I  was  indignant,  but  yielded  for  the  sake  of  peace, 
and  that  the  game  migiit  not  l)e  spoiled.  So  we 
tossed  up  once  more,  and  Dudley  won  the  first 
choice.  He  had  already  chosen  his  first  plaj^er 
when  one  of  the  best  players  in  the  school  came 
on  to  the  ground  and  I  at  once  chose  him  for  my 
side.  This  Dudley  declared  was  unfair,  and  as  I 
was  in  doubt  I  yielded  again. 

During  the  progress  of  the  game  we  were  beat- 
ing the  other  side,  Avhen  Burton  called  a  foul  on 
one  of  Phil's  runs,  and  not  being  sustained  in  his 


20 


FA  Til  !■:  11    A( : .  I  IXS  T    S  ( )X. 


assertion  struck  IMiil  \v\i\i  liis  cat-stick  as  he 
reaclu'(I  tlic  liomc  _L;'oal.  I  was  iio\\-  not  oiilv  L;'et- 
tiiiy  aii;4ry.  Imt  ^^•as  n\'  llic  npinidu  tliat  \\c  liad 
yielded  eii(iiiL;'li  inr  the  sake  et'  peace,  ami  said, 
'•Look  liei'e.  nurtoii.  you  "ve  kiillied  us  iVoin  the 
l)eL;'iuiiinL;',  and  we  N'e  lei  it  l;'o  so  as  not  to  lia\e 
a  fuss.      Xow  cheese  il  !  "" 

••I  dou't  associate  with  wharf  rats  and  gutter 
snipes,"*  siiarliii^lv  sai<I  Unrtou  :  aiul  to  ein])hasize 
his  i-eiiiai-ks  he  struck'  Phil  once  nioi'c  a  cruel  hlow. 

At  this  I  pulled  oil  my  jacket,  and  adxanciiiL;' 
angrily  towards  jinrton  e\(daimed.  •"  I  "11  show  you 
how  to  treat  a  coward  and  hulh!""  'I'he  ])ovs 
forme(l   a    rin^'  and   cried,  "A    llL;ht.   a    light!"* 

Just  then  I'hil  [luslied  his  ^\•a^■  into  the  ring-  and 
said,  '•  Fi'llei's,  this  chap  hegun  it  hy  callin*  me 
names  an"   strikin"   me.  an*   it's  my   light  I "" 

*'  Dud  *11  lick  spots  out  of  yer,""  growded  the  hoys. 
'•  lie  *s  l)igger  *n  you  :   *t  ain't  hiir.** 

Phil  persisted:  there  was  a  murmur  of  assent, 
and  I  was  ohliged  to  give  way  to  him. 

'•  Fellers,"  he  said,  *'  I  ain't  goin'  to  have  Ilez 
l)lame(l  f r  fightin*   f"r  me.** 

Phil  stripped  otT  hoth  jackets  and  even  his  un- 
dershirt, and  resolutely  stood  on  the  defence. 
Dudley  threw  off  his  jacket  and  made  an  angry 
rush  to  iinish  Phil,  who  (piickly  ste[)[)ed  one  side 
and  put  out  his  foot,  and  Dudley  plunged  forward, 
hdling  on  his  face.  lie  now  was  furit)us,  and 
again  rushed  upon  his  small  opponent,  but  Phil, 


Pini    A  T    SCHOOL.  21 

■while  facing-  his  antagonist,  kept  stepping  l>ack 
ninil)ly  as  he  struek  DncUej',  so  that  every  blow 
aimed  at  him  was  warded  off  or  avoided.  Dudley 
was  now  out  of  breath  as  well  as  out  of  temper. 
He  had  lost  his  head.  This  was  Phil's  opportu- 
nity, and  soon  he  had  given  the  bully  a  black  eye 
and  a  bloody  nose.  The  boys  cheered  Phil ;  when 
Dudley,  thoroughly  infuriated,  and  in  defiance  of 
fair  play,  kicked  Phil  in  the  stoiuach  and  then 
rushed  upon  him,  while  the  boys  cried,  ''  Foul  I 
Shame  !  Shame  !  "  and  other  exclamations  of  dis- 
approval of  Dudley's  conduct.  But  w^hen  we 
thought  Phil  was  down  and  conquered,  l)y  a  skil- 
ful trick  he  turned  the  Ijully  and  was  on  top  of 
him.  Upon  this  a  tremendous  cheer  went  up 
from  the  boys,  and  they  exclaimed,  "  Give  it  to 
him,  Phil!"'^ 

'^No,"  said  Phil  pathetically,  "I  fights  fair,  if  I 
is  a  wharf  rat,"  and  with  this  he  let  Dudley  get 
upon  his  feet. 

Once  more  Dudley  attempted  to  kick,  when 
Phil  caught  his  foot  and  sent  him  heels  over  head 
to  the  ground.  He  did  not  get  to  his  feet  so 
readily  as  usual,  and  wdien  he  again  approached 
Phil  it  was  with  such  total  lack  of  self-command 
that  Phil  caught  the  bully's  head  under  his  arm 
and  punished  him  "  until  he  bellowed,"  as  the 
boys  said,  "  like  a  big  calf." 

When  Burton  had  gone  from  the  field  of  his 
defeat,  crying  "  enough,"  Phil  turned  to  the  boys 


l\\Tlli:n    A(,AL\ST    SON. 


and  said.  ••  1 1'  aii\'  (if  Dud's  friends  ^\allts  to  call 
Hit'  iir  llcz  names,  (»!•  lake  up  Dud's  light,  now  "s 
y'v  idiaMci'."' 

I)Ut   111)   (lue   M'aiite(l   tii  liglit.      Idiev  all  ag'reed, 

e\"en  Dudley's  su[)[M>sed  friends,  that  Thil  luurheeii 

inoi-e   than    fail'.      One   of  them   set   ii[)  a  cheer  for 

i'liil.   and   calh'(l   jiini   '•  I'hilihuster,""   and    seenie(l 

.glad    that    the    hulh'    had   heeii    \'an(|uishe(l. 

I  liidpeil  IMiil  put  on  Ins  clothes,  and  liieii  lie 
said  soheil\ ,  ••  Won't  \u\\  go  up  lo  marm's  with  me  ? 
1  s|iose  she  won't  want  me  f'r  a  ho\'  an\'  more, 
now  i  \c  heeii  iightin",  f"r  she  said  this  nioi-nin' 
that    1    junst    he   a    [leacemaher." 

••  1  don't  thinlv  she'll  turn  you  otit  of  the  house 
for  thai."  1  said. 

'•  I  don't  care  so  much  "hout  that,"  said  I'liil. 
'■as  1  do  lliat  slie'll  thiid<  1  '\e  lieeii  hail  a-pui'pose. 
J '\'e  tried  all  along  to  he  good  all'  to  he  a  peact'- 
maher.  as  maiaii  told  me  1  nnist,  "cause  she's  good 
to  a-  fidh'i'."' 

And  Phil  hegan  lo  snufile  with  his  ai'm  up  to 
his  hice.  saying  hetwecii  smiines.  •"  an"  now  —  I  "\e 
lieeii  an'  — an"  —  lvno(dvi.'d  Ditd  iSurton  into  pieces, 
an"    tore    my   hest    hi'ichcs  !  " 

.Vnd  ^\ith  this  Phil  hegan  to  cr\'  lilvc  a  good 
fellow.  So  I  A\"ent  home  with  IMiil  to  ]iel[i  hini 
make  Jiis  eonfessiou  to  marni,  as  he  (.•ailed  ]\]rs. 
Xonlit.  ".Alarm,"  said  Phil,  very  httnd)lv  and 
trendilingly.  and  catcliing  his  hreath  Avitli  agita- 
tion, and  ■snullling,  —  "  marm  —  I've  l)een  an'  toi-n 


PHIL    AT    SCHOOL.  23 

them  new  biielies  a-li;^'htiu'  Dud  liuilon.""  And 
then  Phil  began  to  liowl,  as  if  he  liad  got  the 
whipping  instead  of  Dud. 

"  Dudley  kicked  him  dreadfull}',  too,"  I  put  in 
synipatlietically.     ''He's  hurt  liim  l)ad,  inarm." 

''Why,  wliy!  What  <//-/  you  hght  for?"  she 
exclaimed  in  reproachful  tones. 

"  He  called  me  names,  an'  Hez  a  liar,  an'  struck 
me  with  a  cat-stick.  I  had  n't  touclied  him  tlien, 
neither.  And  I  did  n't  Mant  t'  tight.  I  don't 
s'pose  you  "11  A\ant  me  for  a  hoy,  now  I  *ve  been 
lightin'.  l)Ut  you've  l)een  good  to  me,"  said 
Phil,  with  the  tears  running  doMU  his  face,  "  an' 
—  an'  —  I  love  y',  if  I  is  bad." 

The  good  woman  could  restrain  her  motherly  in- 
stincts and  expressions  of  sympathy  no  longer,  and 
throwing  her  arms  around  Phil's  neck  said  lietween 
her  sobs,  as  I  told  her  about  the  tight,  "  ]\Iy  poor, 
dear  boy,  your  marm  loves  you.  Don't  cry,  don't 
cry,  Phil,"  and  then,  woman-like,  she  set  the  example 
by  another  burst  of  tears. 

The  president  of  the  Peace  Society,  who  hap- 
pened to  be  visiting  lier  that  day,  came  in  while 
this  A^as  going  on,  and  J\Irs.  Nonfit  explained  the 
situation  to  him  and  said,  "  He  's  a  manly  little 
fellow,  if  he  did  fight,  .Air.  Stanley." 

When  the  white-headed  advocate  of  peace  heard 
the  full  particulars  he  said  to  Phil,  "  It 's  very  bad, 
very  bad." 

"You  would  n't  have  stood  it  to  be  aljused  your- 


24  FATHER    AG'AIXST    SOX. 

self.'""  indii^'iiniilly  said  Mrs.  Nontit.  '-Youlcnow 
you  \\-()nl(lu"t,  Mr.  Stanley  I  "" 

"  X() !  ciiipliat ically  I'csponded  the  gcnnl  old  man, 
as  lie  lifted  up  I'liiTs  ti'ai't'nl  fare.  '•  It  "s  a  bad  })rao- 
tiee  to  liglil.  l»ut  yon  seem  siin[)lv  to  have  dtdVnded 
yourself,  and  plaLj'ne  nie  if  I  wonld  n"l  liave  like(l 
to  liaw  seen  yon  walloji  the  hrulel —  ITni:""  and 
the  n'ood  peace  pi'esident.  re.nieniherinL;' his  peaeefnl 
nature,  ejacnlated,  ••  IJad,  had  I  —  Ilninjih  :  ""  and 
then  hreakiuL;'  out  a^ain  said,  "  lint  he  desei-\'eil  all 
}'ou  L;-avi'  him,  thon^'h,  the  hrutel"" 

When  I  told  my  fallu'r  and  grandfather  about 
this  inter\"ie\v  they  laughe<l  inimensid\-  h)r  a  time, 
and  then  f.tther  said  to  mother,  '"J  guess  if  Phil 
eon(|Uere(l  IJuiloii  b\-  force,  Mrs.  Nontit  has  con- 
([Uered    I'hil    by    loN'e.""       So    it    proved. 

IMiil  had  one  of  those  nolde  natures  in  which 
good  seed  [ilauti'd  by  kind  and  lo^■illg■  hands  (piickh" 
g'erminated.  If  at  times  after  this  lie  felt  an  in(di- 
nation  to  liglit,  tlie  impulse  Ayas  quickly  eurbed  l»y 
the  thoug-ht  of  the  paiu  it  Ayould  cause  to  those 
\\]\o  were  kind  to  him.  And  after  this  the  boys 
kne^^■  he  could  defend  himself,  and  \yere  but  little 
inclined  to  proyoke  liini. 


A    FAILURE    AND    ITS    CONSEQUENCES.    25 


CHAPTER    III. 

A   FAILUIIE    AXD    ITS   CONSEQUENCES. 

The  events  narrated  in  the  foregoing  chapter, 
althongh  in  themselves  trivial,  were  not  without 
influence  on  our  famiI3^  They  show  how  the 
smallest  incidents  may  turn  the  current  of  one's 
Hfe.  My  mother,  although  reared  in  democratic 
New  England,  was  ambitious  of  social  distinction. 
My  father,  horn  and  reared  in  tlie  aristocratic  sur- 
roundings of  tlie  South,  and  his  father  an  aristocrat 
among  aristocrats,  cared  but  little  for  such  distinc- 
tions except  so  far  as  they  pleased  my  mother.  For 
her  he  had  at  times  made  efforts  to  break  through 
the  cold  crust  of  Wichnor  society  reserve.  Mrs. 
Burton,  the  mother  of  "  Bully  Burton,"  had  taken 
my  mother  up  at  one  time  and  patronizingly 
declared  that  my  father  had  a  very  distinguished 
manner  ;  but  after  the  episode  recounted  in  the 
last  chapter  she  had  socially  dropped  her,  as  grand- 
father sneeringiy  declared,  "  like  a  hot  potato." 

In  Wichnor  two  conditions  were  essential  to 
those  who  desired  social  recognition  (and  no 
doubt  in  this  it  is  different  from  other  towns  and 
cities  in  New  England)  :  first,  they  must  belong 
to  the  leading  church  of  the  town  ;  second,  they, 


21 ;  FATHER    AaAIXST    SON. 

or  I'iillior  tlic  male  iiii'inlx'is  of  the  family,  must 
Ik"  ill  some  kind  of  prosperous  ousiuess,  or  have 
uuddulded  elaims  to  Mealtli.  Willi  these  (pialiti- 
t'atioiis  a  })eis(iii  mi^ht  take  a  hi^'h  [>laee  in  the 
chuich  or  ill  soeiely.  though  haviiiL;'  hut  little 
claim  tti  either  hi^ii  hirth  or  n'ood  hreediuL;'.  and 
thiai^h  his  life  as  a\-c11  as  the  means  hy  A\-hieh  his 
wcallh  was  ac(|uired  mi^ht  lie  a  ti'ille  shadv. 

.M\-  fathei'  jestingly  said  that  in  }iraetical  Wich- 
nor.  piet\'  A\'as  kept  fnuii  eontaniinatii)n  hy  keeping 
it  frmii  unduly  interfering  with  a\ariee  and  money- 
gx'tling.  Me  eoiitinued,  '•  Wdiat  though  the  Mas- 
ter said,  long  years  ago  in  .ludea.  'Ye  cannot 
serve  (iod  and  .Mammon."  and  ^  Where  your  treas- 
ure is,  there  will  your  heart  l)e  also"?  It  does 
not  ap[ily  to  the  practical  affairs  of  our  churches, 
A\here  large  sums  of  money  are  needed  for  sus- 
taining a  fashiouahle  society  and  a  high-salaried 
minister,  and  h)r  converting  the  heathen.  Cdiris- 
tiaiiit\',  under  modern  conditions,  must  make 
concessions  to  the  pursuit  of  Avealth,  or  suffer 
defeat."" 

(irandhither  Perkins  ])okt'd  the  fire  lierceh-  and 
his  hice  turned  red  —  or  was  it  a  retlcction  of  the 
blaze?  —  as  he  said,  ''  Ifufus,  I  don"t  l)elieve  in 
a  man"s  heiug  such  a  heathen  as  not  to  helong 
to  a  church,  or  so  dummed  poor  that  lie  can"t  help 
su})port  it;  that  is — moderatel}'.  It  is  written, 
"The  meek  sliall  inherit  the  earth,"  isn't  it?"" 

'■'  I    reckon,    then,""    said    father,    with    a   smile, 


.-1    FAILl'RE    AND    ITS    CONSEQUENCES.    27 

"that  a  good  church  meml)er  mustn't  he  too  par- 
ticular hoAV  he  comes  into  possession  of  his  inheri- 
tance —  is  that  it?  " 

"  How  can  a  man  he  respectahle  without  money  ?  " 
querulously  inquired  grandfather,  with  another 
impatient  poke  at  the  fire.  '•'•  Besides,  did  n't  vSt. 
Paul  say,  '  If  any  provide  not  for  his  own  .  .  . 
he  is  worse  than  an  infidel '  ?  " 

"  Wal,"  drawled  Jim  Bisbee,  an  ex-tin-peddler, 
who  had  dropped  in  for  a  neighborly  talk,  "  a  little 
money  ain't  a  bad  thing  to  hev,  ]\lr.  Johnstone, 
but  if  a  feller  pinches  a  dollar  harder  "n  —  he 
pinches  on  to  other  good  tlnngs,  it  is  t'  my  mind  a 
sign  that  his  heart  is  in  the  dollar  ruther  than  in  the 
good  he  can  du  with  it.  If  a  feller's  l)ound  t'  make 
money  l)y  hook  or  crook,  an'  takes  more  pleasure  in 
gittin'  it  than  in  usin'  of  it  for  some  good  purpose, 
then  it 's  agin  Scriptur." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  my  father,  "  it 's  a  good  idea 
to  offer  the  high  places  in  our  churches  not  to 
those  who  are  most  Christ-like,  Ijut  to  those  who 
can  put  up  the  money ;  to  the  highest  bidder,  as 
you  might  say?  " 

'•'•  Wal,  nao\y,  !Mr.  Johnstone,  that's  one  way  o' 
puttin'  of  it,  but  I  don't  say  it  ain't  a  good 
scheme  t'  make  the  rich  ones  contribute  money  if 
they  can't  contribute  a  good  example  ;  but,  good- 
ness !  you  know  I  think  the  M'ay  t'  keep  men 
lib'ral  an'  good  is  t'  keep  'em  giviu'  t'  some  good 
purpose  ;  then  they  feel  they  've  got  an  int'rest  in 


28  PATH  Ell    AdAIXST    SON. 

it.  So  the  eliui-cli  is  all  rinlit  when  you  look  at 
that  side  of   it.      Don't  you  sue.  Mi'.  Johnstone?" 

My  father  sniilt'd  at  -linTs  piL'stMitation  of  the 
moral  use  of  nicuu-y  in  ehurch  affairs.  Avhile  grand- 
fatlicr  (lro})|»ed  the  jiolver.  lookcMl  at  his  huL;t'  silver 
watch,  n'ot  u}),  and  with  a  soui'  look  at  Jim  I>ishee 
went  out  h)r  the  niiiht. 

I  have  recorded  my  reeolleetions  of  this  conver- 
sation hecause  it  re^'e;ds  my  hither"s  eontem})t  for 
mere  money-getters.  I  have  often  heard  him 
express  the  o})inion  that  thi'  lowest  use  to  ^\•hich 
the  human  intelh'ct  could  he  put  was  to  convert 
it  into  a  machine  for  tunuuL;'  out  dollars  and  cents. 
In  this  \\'ill  he  seen  how  alien  wvn^  jiis  methods  of 
thought  from  the  ordinary  New  l^nglmid  mind. 

Xotwitlistanding  these  ^■iews  and  his  contempt 
for  sordid  gains,  my  father  sur^irised  all  his  neigh- 
hors,  not  long  after  this  conversation,  hy  entering 
into  partnerslii})  A\itli  a  sharp-i'aeed,  sharp-dealing 
man,  a  Mr.  C*yrus  Katchem. 

Father's  explanation  of  his  reasons  was,  that 
although  a  gentleman  and  in  the  main  a  good 
( 'hristian,  yet  l)eing  in  no  paying  husiness  lie  had 
no  proper  recognition  in  either  the  church  or  in 
societv,  and  in  conse(|uence  would  receive  no  con- 
sideration, sliould  lie  die,  in  a  New  England  or  a 
Wichnor  heaven. 

"It's  l)ecause  you've  got  no  proper  gauge  of 
your  own  eapaeity  for  husiness,  Kufus.  I  "11  agree 
with  you  in  one  thing,  you  are   too   much   of  an 


.1    FAILURE    AND    ITS    CONSEQI'ENCES.    29 

honest  man  and  a  gentleman  to  take  a  partnersliip 
with  C3TU.S  Katchem,"  said  grandfather  ;  and  liav- 
ing-  had  his  say  he  did  not  again  mention  the  part- 
nership nntil  his  attention  was  called  thereto  by 
the  following  circnmstances : 

At  first  father  had  pnt  into  tlie  business  only  a 
little  read_y  money  that  he  had  in  l)ank,  but  after  a 
time  Katehem  declared  that  father's  al)ilities  had 
"  made  things  hum,"  so  tliat  the  business  was 
extending  Ijeyond  their  capital. 

Grandfather  Perkins,  on  l)eing  consulted  al)ont 
putting  in  more  money,  very  wisely  said:  "If  the 
business  is  extending,  your  credit  ought  to  extend 
with  it.  Don't  risk  money  when  yon  don't  see 
where  it 's  going  to." 

What  arguments  were  used  to  counteract  this 
very  common-sense  view  I  know  not ;  but  a  short 
time  afterwards  my  motlier's  estate  was  heavily 
mortgaged  for  money  to  put  into  the  firm  of 
"  Katchem  &  Johnstone." 

A  few  days  later  Cyrus  Katchem  declared  that 
the  business  had  got  into  a  terrible  snarl,  and  some 
one  would  have  to  put  in  more  money  to  untangle 
things. 

As  my  father  had  no  funds  on  which  to  dra^^^ 
and  as  Katchem  said  that  he  had  begged  and  bor- 
rowed for  the  firm  to  the  extent  of  his  abilities,  the 
snarl  became  a  knot,  which,  it  was  soon  found, 
could  not  be  untied  without  an  assignment. 

Burton,  shortly  after  this,  took  the  o[)portunity 


30 


FA  7 II  I:R    .  U  /.  1  /  A'.s'  7 '    X ( )X. 


to  seize  my  inotlier's  estate  l>y  fnrerldsiiic;'  liis 
in(ii'tL;'aL;-e.  hut  was  clieelonahMl  hy  ( iraiidt'allier 
Perkins.  \\-li()  i'liniished  tlie  uioiiev  to  ])a,\-  n[)  the 
iiioi'ti^an'e  (111  tile  estate,  taking  one  liiuiself  at  six 
per  cent,   interest 

AnionL;' simie  nf  our  fair-niiii(le(l  neiglihors  tliei'e 
^\■as  a  strong  opinion  that  ('\rus  Ivatelieni  had 
<h'lrande(l   liis    [larlnei'. 

(  )n  an  examination  of  tlie  hooks  of  tlie  Ivatchem 
I'oneern.  tliere  was  snrh  nnmistakahh'  e\i(k'nee  of 
recent  nnhnr  and  frauihileiit  transfer  of  pioperty 
to  k'atchein"s  \\ife.  that  fatliei'  hegan  a  suit  at  hiw 
againsi  him.  ( irand  fatlier  l'erl<iiis  was  opposed  to 
this  on  tlie  gidund  that  it  \\(iul<l  he.  as  lie  sai(h 
'MJii-owing  good    nione\'  after  lia(h"' 

My  lallier  engaged  as  liis  hiwyer  tlie  ahle/Whit- 
eome  (uie.  an  influential  man.  and  l)eh)re  Kateliem 
had  a  ehaiiee  to  convey  all  his  property  hy  safe 
transhn"  it  was  [trompth'  seized  on  account  of  the 
suit   hrouglit    hy   my   hither. 

Afti'r  tlie  usual  ■•  law's  delay."  judgment  was 
I'cndered  hw  the  plaintitf  .lohnstoiie.  'I'lie  defend- 
ant appeak'(|,  and  after  a  \exatious  rediearing  tlu' 
judgment  of  the  lo\\-er  court  \\as  sustained.  \]\- 
ceptions  to  the  ladings  of  the  court  were  then 
carried  hehire  a  full  hench.  wliic'h  again  sustained 
the  judgment  of  the  h)wer  court,  and  my  father 
triumi>lie(h  'Jdiere  was  rejoicing  in  the  house  of 
Uufus  .lohnstoue,  liut  (-irandhither  Perkins  Avas  a 
wet    Idanket.      "Wait,"'  he  sai(h   "until  you  liear 


A    FAILURE    AXD    JTS    CUXSEUl'ENCES.    31 

from  your  lawyer.  You  've  beaten  Kateliem,  and 
now  your  lawyer  will  beat  you." 

''  The  Hon.  Wliiteonie  Cute  is  the  soul  of 
honor,"  exelainied  my  father ;  '•'•  I  '11  voueh  for  his 
integrity  anywhere." 

The  day  of  settlement  with  the  lawyer  came. 
Father,  the  Hon.  Whiteome  Cute  and  his  young- 
partner,  and  Grandfather  Perkins  were  seated  at 
a  table  where  various  papers  weiv  displayed  and 
examined  and  explained.  Ever^'thing  so  far  Avas 
satisfactory.  The  Hon.  Whiteome  Cute  then  pre- 
sented an  itemized  account  for  his  services. 

As  the  Hon.  Whiteome  Cute  handed  over  to  my 
father  the  account  he  said  : 

"  Mr.  Johnstone,  I  've  known  your  father-in-law 
a  great  many  years.  I  knew  his  good  wife  —  (lod 
bless  her  I  —  before  he  married  her ;  I  attended  her 
funeral  and  Avas  one  of  the  Ijearers.  I  knew  j'our 
wife,  ]Mr.  Johnstone,  when  she  was  a  little  girl. 
Our  family  has  always  thought  a  great  deal  of  her ; 
and  in  consideration  of  our  long,  unbroken  friend- 
ship I  've  made  my  bill  just  as  reasonable  as  is 
consistent." 

A  tear  glistened  on  the  cheek  of  the  Hon.  Whit- 
eome Cute  as  he  made  these  feeling  remarks.  All 
present  were  affected  except  Grandfather  Perkins. 
He  had  unsentimentally  put  on  his  spectacles 
and  was  running  his  eye  over  the  long,  itemized 
account. 

As  the  Hon.  Whiteome  Cute  concluded  and  was 


32  FATIIl'R    ACAIXST    SOy. 

wipino'  liis  eves  Avitli  liis  spotless  ixx'ket-handker- 
eliief,  (Traiidt'atlier  Perkins,  })assiii!_;'  tlic  paper  to 
father,  sai<l  witli  aii  aiiL;ry  grunt,  "It's  duriied 
lueky,  Ivut'us,  tluit  tlie  s([uire  didn't  know  your 
fatlu'r  and  mother  ami  all  your  eonueetions,  or 
he'd   'a*   skiiuied  you   alive.'"" 

Fatlier,  as  lie  mastered  tlic  import  of  tlie  items, 
exelaimed,  "'  Uut  \\liat  do  I  get,  Mr.  Cute?  Your 
l)ill  seems  to  eover  the  whole  sum  recovered  from 
the  thief."" 

'^({et?  (ict,  my  dear  sii- '.•'""  exclaimed  lawyer 
Cute.    ■•\Vliy,  my  good  friend,  ijun  ijct  iimir  rase!"' 

I  have  often  since  that  time  had  occasi(ju  to 
o1)sei've  that,  in  going  to  law,  a  client  may  get 
his  case  ^\■itllout  ohtaining  nuu'li  else  of  justice 
or  satisfaction  for  himself,  except  the  doubtful 
pleasure  of  punishing  an  o})[ionent,  and  of  l»ayiug 
the  well-earu(.'(l  fees  of  his  hnvyers.  Finally,  the 
Hon.  \\diiteome  Cute,  at  grandfather's  suggestion, 
threw  out  several  items  from  the  aecouut  and 
reduced  others  until  the  hill  liad  shi'unken  some- 
what in  its  proportions,  grandfather  sareastically 
saying  tliat  as  la\\yer  Cute  hadn't  known  any  of 
his  son-iudaw"s  folks,  he  thought  it  no  more  than 
right  that  these  aljatements  he  made.  Thus  it 
\\'as  that  the  original  bill  ^vas  so  reduced  that  some 
four  hundred  dollars  remained  after  paying  the 
bill  rendered   for   lawyers*  services. 

The  Hon.  Whitcome  Cute  seemed  pleased  when 
the  settlement  was  concluded,  and  father  eourte- 


A    FATLFRI-:    AXD    ITS    rOXSE(}J^ENCES.    33 

ously  said,  while  l)owiii^'  him  to  the  door,  "  I  do 
not  consider  the  hill  as  it  stands,  ]Mr.  Cute,  in  the 
least  unjust." 

Father's  means  had  now  hecome  so  meagre  that 
at  last,  after  several  months'  waiting,  he  humiliated 
liimself  so  far  as  to  write  to  his  father,  the  Hon. 
Rufus  Johnstone,  Sr.,  offering,  like  the  prodigal 
son,  to  become  as  one  of  his  hired  servants. 

There  came  no  answer  direct  to  father  from 
Rufus  Johnstone,  Sr.,  but  one  from  an  uncle, 
William  Johnstone,  saying  that,  as  he  liad  heard 
that  my  father  was  willing  to  accept  employment, 
and  as  he  needed  a  manager  for  his  lousiness,  one 
who  was  trustworthy  rather  than  of  great  l)usiness 
ability,  he  took  the  liberty  of  offering  that  position 
for  his  acceptance. 

After  family  consultation,  father  decided  to  ac- 
cept the  position. 

In  a  few  weeks  an  answer  was  received  inclos- 
ing a  draft  on  New  York  for  his  expenses,  one-half 
of  which  my  father  deemed  sufficient,  leaving  the 
balance  to  defray  family  expenses  until  he  could 
remove  my  mother  and  myself  to  the  South. 

But  while  men  make  their  little  plans,  and  make 
them  seemingly  well,  a  higher  power  than  man's 
often  overrules  them. 


34  FATJIini    AOAJyS'/'    SOX. 


CHAPTER     IV. 

Mv   iAriii:i;  j.l:a\i:s  wiciinoi;. 

I'l'  M'as  ill  T)('c(_'iiil)(,'r,  iN.V.).  tliai  the  incidents  of 
\\iiicli  tlic  Idrc^'diiin'  cliajittT  is  a  iccdnl  oeciinvd. 
At  that  time  tlic  a^'ilatioii  of  tlic  s]a\tT\-  (|U('sti()ii 
was  at  its  lii'i^'lit.  |)iiriiiL;'  the  ])rc\  ious  (  )ct()her 
Jdhii  lirnwn.  with  a  tew  dfVdtiMl  folhiwers.  liad 
made  a  raid  into  \'iiL;inia  at  Harprr's  Ferrw  A\itli 
tlie  avowed  piuposu  of  raising-  tlic  standard  of  in- 
suri-cct  ion.  and  ol  aniline;'  and  liltei-atiiiL;'  the  shives. 

Tlic  ])t'rsonal  Iti'avt'iy  of  this  fanatical  ohl  man 
liad  t'Xcitc(I  tlic  adiiiii'atioii  e^'cn  of  liis  enemies, 
and  aroused  more  sympalliy  throu_n'liotit  the  Xortli 
tliaii  tlic  anti-sla\ery  men  had  ever  been  ahle  to 
gain  for  the  slaves  of  the  South.  lie  was  tried, 
eomieted,  and  senteneed.  and  Avas  hanged  on  the 
seeond  of   Decemlx'r. 

The  main  effect  of  this  iiieident  was  to  exasperate 
the  temper  and  to  increase  tlie  Ijitterness  of  politi- 
cal disetissioii  everywhere.  Soiiie  men  execrated 
Ihown  as  a  dangerotrs  fellow:  others  exalted  him 
as  a  saint. 

Several  of  our  neighhors  had  dropped  into  our 
sitting-i'ooni  to  express  their  regrets  that  father 
was  to  leave  Wichnor,  and  perhaps,  incidentally,  to 


MY    FATHER    LEAVES     WICIINon.  85 

learn  his  ()[)iiii()ii  of  tliu  hanging  of  John  IJrown. 
Father  had  always  enconraged  these  gatherings, 
and  his  neighhors,  in  their  self-contained  manner, 
appreciated  his  unfeigned  hospitalit}-. 

"We  understand,"  said  Jim  IJisbee,  "-that  you 're 
goin'  hum  South.  We  're  mighty  sony  t'  hev  y' 
go,  tu ;  you  'vc  heen  a  good  neighl)or  an'  we  hope 
we  liain't  seen  the  last  of  y'.  I  know  somethin' 
'bout  you  St)uthern  fellers  —  l»'"ty  good  l)reed; 
ruther  pe[)'ry,  tu,  sometinu'S,  I  snum  I  when  y'  liap- 
pen  ter  git  on  the  oif  side  of  'em.  I  've  peddled  tin 
down  South,  an'  some  o'  them  cha[)S  Mould  Ijuy 
things  they  did  n't  want,  an'  never  ask  the  price  ef 
tliey  happened  t'  like  a  feller,  but  ef  they  took  a 
contr'y  notion  y'  couldn't  tech  'em  with  a  ten- 
foot  [)ole.  But  say,  Mister  Johnstone,  what  du  y' 
thiidv  o'  hangin'  that  ole  feller  Brown?  Kind  o' 
tough  on  him,  wa'n't  it  ?  That  ole  feller  hed  more 
grit  'n  all  the  rest  o'  the  abolitionists  goin'." 

Father  made  no  reply,  for  Grandfather  Perkins 
was  fuml)ling  a  newspaper  and  clearing  his  throat, 
and  he  knew  tliat  more  was  coming. 

"I  see  they  have  had  a  meeting  in  Boston,"  said 
grandfather,  "  regarding  the  hanging  of  tins  Captain 
Brown." 

"Shouldn't  wonder,"  said  father  laughingly; 
"  they  get  up  meetings  there  on  very  slight  prov- 
ocations." 

"  Theodore  Parker  said  at  that  meeting,"  con- 
tinued grandfather  in  his  most  stately  manner  (for 


:;o  FAriiKii  AdAfXsr  sox. 

he  (lid  iTt  lilvc  to  1)('  iiitcrniptoil  wlien  ho  liad  any- 
lliiiii;'  tliat  lie  coiisidcriMl  of  g'lvat  iiiiportanee  to 
deliver),  "■  ''riie  road  to  Heaven  is  as  short  from  the 
^-allows  as  fi-oiii  a  tliroiie.  tierliaps  as  easy.'  Tlioreau 
said.  'Some  ei^'hteeii  hundred  years  a^'o  Christ  was 
rnn-jlied:  this  morning'.  per(diaiiee,  ('a[itain  Urown 
was  liaii^'ed  :  these  are  t\\'o  ends  of  a  eliaiu  M'liieh  is 
not  without  its  linl^s.*  I'hnersou  said,  '  Jolni  l)ro\\ii 
is  a  new  saiid,  waiting'  yet  for  liis  niai1yr(h)m.  wlio, 
if  lie  sliall  sutfer.  will  make  the  L;■allo^\•s  L;'lorious 
like    the    cross."  " 

( ii'andhither  folded  his  pa[)er  and  took  off  his 
speetaeles  with  unusual  stateliiiess,  and  said  im- 
pressi\'e]\-,  ''That  's  what  I  call  elotpiencc.  What 
do  you  thiid<  of  it.  Rufus'/"' 

'^  A\"ith  all  deference  to  you,"'  said  father,  with 
his  ttsual  politeness,  '"I  tliiidc  it  is  n'randihxpiont 
nonsense.  ( )ld  Brown  Avas  a  hrave  man :  lie 
helieved  he  Mas  in  the  ri^ht,  and  was  willing  to  die 
untlinehingly  for  it.  Such  traits  always  ennoble 
men.  I  l)elieve  there  is  more  of  that  kind  of  gait 
in  your  people  than  they  get  credit  for.  But  all 
this  a1)out  John  Brown  being  a  saint  and  martyr  is 
far-fetched.  lie  was  simply,  so  far  as  I  can  see,  a 
brave  old  man."' 

It  will  be  seen  by  this  that  my  father  was  a 
moderate  and  reasonable  man  in  discussions  which 
concerned  the  South. 

''  The  truth  is,"  said  my  father,  "•  the  angry  feel- 
ing's between  the  North  and  the  South  could  not 


MY    FATHER     IJIAVES     WICIIKuR.  o7 

live  a  day  if  the  two  sections  understood  eacli 
other's  point  of  view  as  I  (h».  Tliere  are  l)ut  few 
gentlemen  in  tlie  South  wlio  \\\\\  not  ag'ree  Avlien 
not  angvv  tliat  slaveiy  is  A\rong.  They  ehuni, 
however,  that  it  is  made  more  toIeral)le  at  the  South 
than  it  has  ever  ])een  elsewhere  ;  that  they  have 
inherited  slavery  and  its  attendant  proldems,  and  if 
let  alone  could  deal  Avitli  its  questions  better  than 
Northern  men.  Xoav,  instead  of  endeavoring  to 
solve  the  problems,  they  are  busy  in  inventing 
replies  to  Northern  criticisms.*' 

Grandfather  Perkins  poked  at  tlie  fire,  hitclied 
uneasily  in  his  seat  (for  he  was  an  extreme  aboli- 
tionist in  sentiment),  and  linally  said : 

'•'•  What  can  we  expect  of  men,  Rufus,  who  deny 
a  man's  right  to  possess  himself?  Such  unreason- 
ableness leads  to  all  kinds  of  violence,  until  a  man 
gets  adrift,  as  it  were,  and  can't  tell  right  from 
wrong  ; ''  and  grandfather,  wliile  holding  the  news- 
paper before  his  face  to  shield  it  from  the  heat, 
gave  the  fire  another  great  thrust,  sending  a 
tongue  of  flame,  accompanied  by  a  shower  of 
angry  sparks,  up  the  chimney.  A  murmur  of 
something  like   assent  was   heard  in   the   room. 

"  Andrew  !  Andrew  !  "  called  my  father ;  and 
Andy,  father's  colored  man,  or,  as  some  one  had 
called  him  sarcastically,  Rufus  Johnstone's  shadow, 
at  this  call  came  from  the  kitchen,  and  stood  re- 
spectfully waiting  for  father's  order's.  Andy  was 
a  mulatto,  compactly  built,  and  though  nearly  six 


F.  I  77//: A'    J  ' ;.  1  7.\',S' 7'    SUX. 


fc'L't  ill  li('i;_;lit  <li(l  Hot  look  it,  1)ecause  of  liis  sviii- 
iiK'ti'ical  ](i'o]iort  ioiis.  1 1  is  face,  i1ioiil;1i  oi'diuarilv 
]ilcasaiit.  liad  at  times  an  t'Xjircssioii  of  almost 
saxa^c  (Iclcniiiiialioii  rarelx"  seen  in  oui' of  Iiis  race. 
I''atli('i'  L;'a\t'  a  few  (lircclioii>.  and  as  AiaU'  innicd 
to  L;d  i-allcil  liim  Iiack  at^'ain.  saxin^'.  '-Andi'cw, 
H'cl  the  l;-uiis  ohI  and  clean  tliem.  and  we'll  trv  a 
litl  le  slioolini;'  to-moi-i'o\\ ."" 

'•  "\  es.  sail,  i'es[>oii(led  Andy,  as  he  kuwed  liim- 
.self  out. 

'•||e"s  a  mi^'lilN-  liand\  tellei-,  said  -lim  l>isl)ee, 
"an"  lie  knows  as  mueli  as  an\liod\.  In." 

••  \'es  :  and  foi'  ni\"  [lart,  llnfiis,  1  ean"l  see  wliut 
in  the  \\drld  he  wanls  to  woi-k  foi'  \(>n  for,""  said 
!4Tan<n'atliei' :  *'you  ])ay  him  oid\'  small  wa^'es.  I 
offered  him  donhle  to  woi-k  foi'  me.  and  the  fellow 
hardly  treale(l  me  decent  :  acie<l  -  -  dnmnied  if  lie 
did  n"t  !  —  as  if  1  "d  iiisnlted  liim."" 

1^'athei'sniiled,  and  saitl  in  his  sol't  Sonthern  nnder- 
tones.  and  as  if  to  himself,  "'No.  Andy  woidd  n"t 
leaxcme:*"  and  then  added  as  he  nnised  :  "  ^'ou 
wouldn't  think  that  .\ndv  was  once  considered 
intractahle.  and   a  xcry  had  serxant,  would   \-()U  y  "' 

''The  idea  of  sucdi  a  man  hi'iiiL;'  held  as  a  slave  !  " 
exclaimed  L;-raudhither,  interru[itinL;'  hither.  "■  AVhv, 
.Vndy  can  cipher  and  read  ahout  as  well  as  xou  or 
J  can  I      J  don"t  see  how  he  leai'iied  it,  though."" 

"•' Audy,""  said  my  hither  tlioun'htfuM\-,  ••  was  al- 
ways interested  in  e\-erythinn-  I  was  htud  of  except 
J^atiu   and   (ireek,  and   1    dare  sa\-   he   knows  mure 


MY    FArilElL     LEAl'ES     WirUyoR.  oU 

about  them  than  I  (hi ;  he  alway.s  hiljored  on  any- 
thing that  was  hard  for  nie,  Ijeeaase  that  Ixiy/'said 
father  dropping  his  yoiee  again,  '"loves  nie  as  well 
as  I  love  Hez,  or  better;  you  would  scarcely  believe 
if  I  should  tell  you  how  much.  Here,  Andy  is 
free  as  you  or  I,  and  yet  tlie  relations  l)et\vccn  us 
are  the  same  that  they  A\'ere  Avhen  we  were  at  the 
South,  only  he  works  a  great  deal  harder  here  l)e- 
cause  we  are  poorer.  Slavery  has  its  disagreealjle 
points,  1  '11  admit,  and  there  are  hard  masters  in 
the  South,  as  there  are  iiere.  I  should  n't  like  to 
have  Andy  fall  into  the  hands  of  sucli  men,  l)ut," 
and  father  laughed  as  lie  said  it,  '"  they  would  n't 
get  much  service  out  of  .Vndy  if  he  didn't  ap- 
prove of  them." 

"Well,"  said  ^Ir.  Stanley,  who  was  present,  "a 
man  like  that  stands  a  chance  to  get  a  bad  master, 
does  n't  he  ?  " 

"  I  think  he  does,"  said  father.  "  There  are  some 
men  South,  as  there  are  every^^dlere,  who  \A-(jnld 
coin  blood  into  gold,  who  care  neither  for  God  nor 
Ciesar,  only  the  superscription  on  the  coin.  It 
is  n't  safe  to  give  such  men  too  much  power.  l]ut 
they  overreach  themselves,  for  bad  masters  make 
bad  servants  everywhere.  I  could  tell  you  a  story 
to  illustrate  tliat,  one  which  came  under  my  own 
observation,  if  I  wanted  to." 

"  Oh,  do  tell  us  a  story !  "  I  exclaimed. 

"  Well,"  said  father,  '•"  it  is  a  true  story,  and  it 
may  interest  you  older  men,  but  it  is  n't  much  of  a 


40  FAl'Hl-.R    A<;A]XsT    SOX. 

storv  til  tell.  i1i«iiil;1i  tlir  alTair  A\as  a  ^rcat  deal 
tall<('(l  (if  ardinid  wlicrc  I  li\"c(l  al  tlie  tiiur  it 
lia|i|ii'iii'(|. 

••A  mail  w  lid  (i\\iic(|  a  jilaiilat  ii  m  ailjoiniiiL;'  my 
tallifi"s  had  a  Inn  llial  iki  diu'  coiild  iiiaiia^c.  lIi- 
liad,  SI)  his  master  said,  a  w-vy  liad  tmuiicr,  and  lie 
\\  as  liiialh'  \\lii]i|ic(l.  and  liciiiL;  as  liiL^li-struiig  as 
aii\'  Hiic  1)1  \(iii  ill-  hfcaiiif  w'oisc  instead  ot  better. 

"  <  )ne  daw  while  my  bi'otlier  ISob  and  J  were  on 
this  plantation,  we  eaiiie  upon  him  when  the  over- 
seer was  ahuut  to  whip  him  aL;ain.  I  L;■a^'e  the  C)ver- 
seei'  iii\'  ne\\'  rill*'  to  let  the  hoy  oil'  from  further  whi[)- 
piii'^at  that  time,  for  he  had  heeu  given  two  or  three 
eiits  with   the  A\iiip  already. 

"A  day  or  two  after  this  the  hoy  ran  away  to 
the  swani]is.  Here  he  lived,  and  couldn't  lie 
eauglit.  He  was  so  iieree  and  sa^'age  that  after  a 
time  his  oA\iier  otl'ered  a  reward  for  his  hodv.  dead 
or  alive.  He  hilled  [)aek  after  paidc  of  blood- 
hounds sent  out  to  ti'aek  him,  and  I  have  u"t  any 
doubt  lie  would  have  hilled  the  men  sent  after 
him  if  they  had  eome  within  his  reaeh.  After  a 
while  no  one  eared  to  lueddle  with  him.  lie  Avas 
nicknamed  "  Yellow  Jack.' 

''  One  day,  while  brother  Rob  and  I  were  liunting 
near  the  swamp),  there  stood  Yellow  Jack  on  a  hum- 
mock close  to  us.     He  was  ragged  and  bareheaded. 

'''Hello!  what  are  you  doing  here ?' said  Bob, 
not  a  bit  frightened. 

"  '  Why  don't  you  shoot  me '/     I  ain't  nothin"  but 


MY    FATHER     Ll'lAVI-.S    WfCIIXuR.  41 

a  poor  runaway  servant,"  said  lit-.  He  lodlccd  so 
miseral)le  that  it  made  me  sorry  Tor  liim,  and  1  said, 
'My  poor  fellow,  we  wouldn't  hurt  you  if  we 
could.     We  M'ould  much  I'litlier  help  you.' 

"  'Don't  you  A\ant  some  dinner?'  asked  Tm)!),  at 
the  same  time  passino-  the  luneh  1)asket.  The  fel- 
hny  sat  down  and  ate  like  a  starving  man.  We 
gave  him  some  tish-lines  we  had  with  us,  a  kiufe, 
and  some  matches,  and  after  that  saw  nothing  ()f 
him  for  a  long  time. 

'•  I  was  very  ill  that  winter.  It  was  a  cold 
winter,  one  of  the  coldest  I  ever  knew  in  our 
country ;  at  one  time  the  swamp  was  frozen 
over. 

'*  I  lay  in  my  room  hurning-  up  with  a  fever ; 
sick,  it  was  feared,  unto  death.  Somehow,  I  don't 
know  exactly  how,  perhaps  from  my  brotlier,  or 
more  likely  from  the  servants,  Yellow  Jack 
learned  of  my  sickness,  left  the  SAvamps,  and  came 
to  the  house ;  some  one  let  him  in,  and  the  first  I 
knew  of  it  he  was  loathing  my  hands  and  face  as 
tenderly  as  a  woman.  ]\Iy  father  came  to  the 
room,  and  seeing  this  —  as  he  thought  —  danger- 
ous fellow,  reached  for  Ids  pistol  to  shoot  him. 

"  I  don't  know  how  I  did  it,  Ijut  I  got  from  the 
bed  and  stood  l)etween  my  father  and  the  Ijoy, 
Avhile  my  brother,  who  had  come  in,  pushed  in 
between  us,  exclaiming  :  '  Tliis  boy  is  here  on  my 
parole  of  honor,  father.  If  you  touch  him  I  sliall 
be  dishonored,  and  shall  resent  it.'     Yellow  Jack, 


42 


FA'rrU'.ll    A'.AIXST    SON. 


ineiiiiwliilc,  liad  taken  me  in  his  arms  and  put  lue 
into  IkmI  aL;'aiii. 

"'My  t'atlicr  stoml  a  moinciit  as  it'  uncertain, 
tlicn.  as  if  coiniirclicndinL;'  in  }iart  tlic  situation, 
turned    on    his    lieel    and   left    the    I'ooui. 

"In  an  lioiu'  lie  eame  hack  and  han(h'(l  nu'  a 
|ia|)er.  •  Wdiat  is  tiiis  foi'?"  I  said.  •  Kead  it.  my 
Soli."  saiil  fatliei-.  willi  unnsual  teiidei'Uess.  It  ^\•as 
a  hill  of  sale  of  \'ellow  -laek,  from  liis  master  to 
me. 

"■  There,  said  falher,  -the  lio\'  is  \-oni's  :  I  have 
hon'_;lii  him  foi-  you!  Wiw  can  set  him  free  or 
do  anylhiiiL;'  else   you    lia\e   a   mind   to   with  liim." 

"  l-'i'om  that  time  the  ho\-  nui'se(l  me  faithfully. 
I  doiTt  thin]-;  lie  slept  for  a  Mt'ek,  and  the  (hictor 
said  his  nnrsiiiL;'  sa\-e(l  m\-  life.  Yon  would  liardlv 
heliexe  that  the  fellow  who  had  heen  so  disohedient 
and  savage  heeame  the  most  (h'Vott'fl  servant  a 
man  e\er  had.  lie  ueN'ei'  took  to  the  swamps 
after  that." 

"  What  heeame  of  him  linall\-  '/ ""   we  all  asl-;ed. 

"lie  is  out  there  in  the  kitchen  —  it  Avas 
Andy." 

Tliere  Avas  silence  in  the  L;rou[i  for  an  instant, 
when   Jim    liishee   ejaculated,"!   snum  !  "' 

The  incident  A\'as  a  I'evidation  to  oui'  neighl)ors 
of  tli(>  relations  sometimes  existiiiL;'  hetweeu  master 
and  slave. 

"1  "d  like  to  see  Fiicde  Kohert."*  T  said.  "  Where 
does  he  live,  father/"' 


]\[Y    FATHER    LEAVES    WICIIXOR.  48 

"  Rk'ss  3'ou,  Hez,  so  would  1  like  to  see  him  I 
Where  does  he  live,  did  yoii  say?  Well,  when  I 
came  to  this  .State  to  enter  college,  he  came  to 
New  York.  He  lived  a,  rather  fast  life,  so  it  was 
said,  though  it  was  su[)posed  he  was  studying  law- 
there.  I  saw  him  once  or  twice  after  we  came 
North.  After  that  he  was  married,  to  an  actress, 
it  was  said,  and  then  father  was  angry,  ])roke  with 
him  as  he  did  with  me  later,  and  I  've  not  seen  him 
since.  He  wrote  me  once  ahout  going  to  sea,  and 
I  've  never  heard  from  him  since.'' 

"Perhaps  he  has  made  u[)  with  your  dad  and  is 
at  home  now,"  I  said. 

"  No,"  said  father,  ''  he  Avould  starve  before  he 
would  acknowledge  himself  wrong  when  he  be- 
lieved himself    right.     No,  he  's  not  gone  home." 

The  next  day  —  and  T  rememljer  it  as  if  it  were 
yesterday,  though  nearly  forty  years  have  passed 
since  then — T  accompanied  father  and  Andy  to 
the  woods. 

The  reserve  and  pride  which  at  times  seemed  to 
shut  me  out  from  father's  heart  was  Ijroken  down 
that  day,  and  he  was  sunny  and  at  his  best.  I  was 
allowed  to  shoot,  under  his  direction,  to  my  heart's 
content,  for  he  was  a  famous  shot ;  and  both 
Andy  and  father  declared  that  T  would  make  an 
excellent  marksman. 

Before  leaving  for  home,  Avhile  Andy  Avas  clean- 
ing the  rifles,  father  said  to  me  : 

"As  you  know,  I  am  about  to  leave  Wichnorfor 


44 


7-^  1  I'll  Ell  A  (;a  ins  t  son. 


tlie  8<')utli :  tliat  unrortniiate  failui'e  lias  made  it 
iuhmII'iiI  for  nie  t<>  make  an  effort  to  do  soiiietliiii!:;' 
for  tlioS('  I  lo\'e.  My  uncle  has  oi'fered  me  a  jiosi- 
tioii  with  a  L;-ood  salary,  a  [)laee,  he  says,  lliat 
doesn't  rei|iiire  mnrh  Imsiness  talent,  —  \\'hieh  is 
fortunate  foi'  me,  —  hnt  hde]it\'.""  'I'hen  he  hesi- 
tated as  he  said:  "  lie/,,  I  "\'e  had,  in  some  indehn- 
ahle  way,  a  fetdin^'  of  iroultle — I  mi^ht  call  it  a 
jtresentiiiient.  I  sii[)[)ose  it  is  siiiiplv  low  spirits. 
Still,  1  fe(d  ill  somr  wa\'  that  ])ossi!)l\-  f  mayni>t  see 
von  a^'ain  I'dI' a  Ioiil;'  time.  1  want  yon  always  to 
reiiiemhi'r  that  \on  are  a  ^'eiitleman  s  son.  li  \'ou 
ai'e  e\'ei'  tem|itc(l  to  door  roiiseiit  to  a  low-down 
act,  rememhfi' this.  I  do  not  wish  you  to  despise' 
us<d'iil  em[)lo\'iiient,  such  as  a  trade:  if  I  had  a 
U'ood  knowle(l^-e  of  some  useful  trade  I  would  not 
leave  von  now.  l)Ut  wliatever  you  do,  do  it  in  a 
manlv.  self-res[)eetinL;-  way.  If  you  must  work  for  a 
liviiiL;',  work  like  a  gentleman  and  don"t  he  ashamed 
of  it.  Never  take  advantage  of  the  weak  nor  eringe 
to  the  strong  :  never  ahuse  a  trust  nor  hetray  a  eon- 
fidence  :  defend  your  honor  as  yon  Avonld  a  weak 
woman  or  a  ehild — if  need  he  M"ith  your  life." 

This  talk  made  a  deep  im})ression  on  me  at  a  time 
when  sueh  im[)ressions  are  indtdihle  :  and  if  I  have 
ever  proved  mvself  manly  and  strong  where  I  might 
have  found  excuse  to  l)e  otherwise  it  A^■as  het'ause  (if 
such  im}»ressious.  received  from  my  father. 

The  next  day  lu'  took  his  deiuirtnre  hy  steamer 
to  New  York  en  route  for  North  Carolina. 


A    MYSTERY.  45 


CHAPTER    V. 


A    MYSTERY. 


Shortly'  after  the  arrival  of  my  father  in  the 
South  we  reeeived  a  letter  -written  in  a  very  h()[)e- 
ful  and  happy  tone.  His  unele  treated  him  as  a 
son  rather  than  as  a  de[)endent,  he  said;  his  sur- 
roundings ^vere  pleasant,  and  he  anticipated  a 
speedy  reunion  Avith  his  family ;  at  least,  as  soon 
as  he  had  tlie  means,  and  could  arrange  pro[)erly 
for  our  removal  South. 

After  this  letters  eanie  at  regular  intervals  for  a 
while,  some  of  them  containing  drafts  for  money, 
and  all  expressing  the  love  he  felt  for  mother  and 
me. 

In  one  of  these  letters  he  alluded  to  the  threats 
of  dissolving  the  Union,  so  commonly  heard  at  that 
time  among  Southern  men,  if  the  Republican  party 
should  elect  a  president;  and  said  it  was  mere 
bluster  and  talk,  Avhicli  would  disappear  after  the 
elections  were  over. 

About  four  months  after  his  arrival  we  were 
somewhat  surprised  by  the  intelligence  that  his 
uncle  was  attempting  to  effect  a  reconciliation 
between  him  and  his  father.  Soon  afterwards 
another  letter  from  father  announced  that  a  com- 


46 


FA  I'll i: J!    A  G.  1  INS T    SOX. 


})lete  ]'('concili;itiiiii  luid  lieeii  effected.  '"So  yoii 
will  see.  my  dear  ui)s<\""  he  wrdte,  '•  that  the  days  (if 
oiii'  p(i\'eny  ai'e  al)niit  (i\"er.  and  also,  \\hieh  is  of 
iiKii'e  e(iii>('i[iieiice  to  uie,  the  (lavs  of  onr  se[)aratioii 
fi'om  each  olher." 

A  slioi't  lime  al'ter  tliis  there  came  still  aiiolhei' 
lett(.T.  sa\"iiiL;'  that  his  hithi'i'  had  consented  to  an 
aiTaiiL^cnK'nt  hy  which  he  was  to  come  Noi'tli  to 
remove  mt»t]ier  and  me  to  his  homi.'  in  Xoith  ( 'aro- 
lina,  and  that  he  should  not  wiite  a^'ain  hefoi'e 
stailini^'   tor  ( 'oiniecticur. 

\W'  were  i^lad  and  somewhat  excited  over  the 
prospect.  I^ach  day  tlH/reafler  I  visite(|  the  steam- 
hoat  landinL;'  to  welcome  liim  home,  hut  he  did  not 
come.  Days  and  weeks  passed,  and  yet  he  did  not 
come:  neither  did  we  recei\e  aiiv  messa^'e  tVom 
him.  Mother  wrote  to  (irandhither  Johnstone,  hut 
received   no   replv. 

And\',  who  ^vas  consulted,  said  vei'v  ])ositivelv, 
'*  Mas"r  IJufus  is  sick,  an'  de  res"  oh  dem  fokes  dar 
doan"  ear"  t"  nol)ody  hut  demselves.  ^his"r  Rul'us 
would  write  if  he  eouhh  If  an"t"inL;'  is  de  matter, 
de  ol"  ]nas"r  would  he  too  sorry  for  hisself  to  car" 
for  you    uns."" 

After  this  the  atmosphere  at  home  hecame  very 
gloomy,  and  I  often  fouixl  mv  mother  eiving  l>v 
lierself.  "'Something  dreadful  has  happeneil  to  vour 
father,""  slu'  said,'"  and  I  wotild  go  South  to  see  what, 
if  I  oidy  had  the  money.  "  (ir.uidfather  Perkins 
said,  "*  Yes,  something  has  certainly  happened  to 


A    MYSTERY.  47 

prevent  liis  coming,  Lnt  not  necessarily  sickness  or 
accident.  Wlien  Eufns  Jolnistone  says  lie  will  do 
anytliing,  and  fails  to  do  it,  there  is  some  good 
reason  for  the  failure  ;  it  is  not  his  fault,  I  am 
sure." 

The  fact  that  he  was  starting  for  Wichnor  when 
last  heard  from,  and  had  not  l)een  seen  or  heard 
from  since,  though  months  had  elapsed,  became 
the  talk  of  our  town.  Some  of  our  neighljors  — 
and  among  them  the  Burtons  — put  a  sinister  con- 
struction upon  his  non-appearance,  saying  he  liad 
deserted  his  Northern  wife.  Jim  Bisbee,  when  the 
subject  came  up  for  discussion,  said : 

"  Like  's  not  ^Iv.  Johnstone  has  had  some  dis- 
'greement  with  some  o"  tliem  political  hot-lieads 
there.  Y'  know  he  ain't  the  man  t'  kee})  his 
mouth  shet  when  there  's  anythin'  that  orter  he 
said  ;  an'  like  's  not  he  's  l)en  sayin'  their  secession 
tin  ain't  silver.  It 's  a  word  an'  a  l)low  down  there, 
an'  the  blow  is  likely  t"  come  fust.  Isnum,  they 
shoot  at  each  other  instid  o'  sassin'  each  other  as 
tliey  would  here  !  For  my  part,  I  think  sass  is 
more  moral  an'  civil,  an'  y'  can  git  over  it  easier." 

"•  Nonsense  !  what  kind  of  talk  is  that  ? "'  said 
grandfather,  snifting  as  if  he  smelled  something 
unsavory. 

"  Wal,"  persisted  Jim,  assuming  an  argumenta- 
tive attitude,  and  poking  his  index  finger  at 
grandfather's  vest,  ''  Naow,  1  tell  y'  liow  "t  is : 
I  've  peddled  tinware  'mong  'em,  an'  y'   know  y' 


48  FATHER    AdAiysT    SOX. 

kiri(l"o  st'f  inside  of  a  man  wla-n  y*  ar"  tradiii"  A\"itli 
"iiii.  If  y"  say  aiivlliin"  "Ixiut  pulilics  tlicv  (loiTt 
like,  tlu'y  say.  kiiul  ii"  |)lrasa]it-likc,  tiiat  llu/y  ]\r\ 
the  lii^'lK'st  iTspcct  f"r  \'r  opinions,  but  \""(1  better 
not  express  "em  roiiiul  there.  Tlieii  \"(1  better  be 
a-L;'ettlir  away  if  \'"  ]ie\'  any  respect  f"r  \"r  eari/tis. 
I  snnm,  tliein  lliat  ne\er  o\\'ne(l  a  ni^'^cr  or  a 
siiin^-le  on  tlie  roof  of  a  sliant\-  is  tlie  \\'nst  !  1 
Lj'ness  tliat  "s  tlie  w  a  \'  "t  is  daowii  tliere  "baout  talkin" 
"L;'"inst  secession:  I  "11  bet  m\'  liat  ",L;'"inst  a  tin  pan 
it  "s  L;dt  sonu'tliin"  l"  dn  w  itli  ][nfns  .Iolnistone"s  not 
eoniin"  Imm  when  y"  expei-teil  him:  jest  like  "s  not 
he  told  'em  that  it  was  eoirsarne(|  nonsense  I  "" 

(  )tliei-s  of  oui'  neiL;'liliors  sn^'.^'ested  that  lie  mij^'ht 
ha\-e  Iteen  foully  dealt  with  in  eoniin^;'  throngli 
New    ^'ork'    ('ity. 

lint  speculations  ami  eonjeetui'es  re^'aribn^'  him 
and  his  whereabouts  proved  as  una\'ailinn'  as  had 
letters  written  to  him  and  to  Ivufus  Jolmstone, 
Sr. 

The  g'loom  catised  by  father's  absence,  and  tlie 
suspense  eattsed  1)V  uncertainty  as  to  his  fate.  A\as 
inteiisiiied  by  poverty,  whieli  stealthily  erept  npon 
lis. 

This  o-loom  was  lightened  for  me  by  Phirs  eom- 
ing-  to  our  house  to  l)oard.  Mrs.  Xontit.  who  had 
lieen  complaining  for  some  mouths  of  not  l)eing 
well,  Avas  at  last  }»rostrated  by  a  hemorrhage  of  the 
lungs,  whic-h  was  so  serious  as  to  call  forth  from  her 
physician,  doubts  if  whether  or  not  she  could  ever 


A    MYSTERY.  49 

recover  from  its  effects.  On  his  recommendation 
she  went  to  ^linnesota  for  a  change  of  climate. 

Before  leaving,  witli  many  kind  admonitions  to 
Phil,  she  connnitted  him  to  my  mother's  charge  to 
care  for  dnring  her  absence.  As  she  paid  qnite  a 
large  snm  of  money  in  advanee  for  his  l)oard  and 
elothing,  this  was  a  great  assistance  to  mother. 

Poor  woman,  she  never  came  l)ack  alive.  Two 
months  or  more  afterward  a  telegram  was  received 
saying  tliat  she  had  died  suddenly  from  a  hemor- 
rhage of  the  lungs. 

After  her  death  it  was  ascertained  that  the  only 
will  she  had  left  was  one  in  the  hands  of  her  legal 
adviser,  which  was  made  long  1)efore  she  knew 
Phil,  and  that  the  papers  for  Phil's  adoption  had 
never  been  executed.  The  lawyer  said  he  liad  no 
doubt,  from  what  he  had  heard  her  say,  that  she 
had  intended  to  make  a  provision  for  Phil,  yet,  he 
said,  it  is  very  connnon  for  pe(.)ple  to  put  off  such 
matters  until  too  late  to  carry  out  their  good 
intentions. 

Tims  it  was  that  Phil  was  once  more  thrown  on 
Iris  own  resources.  But  the  kindly  influence  of 
Mrs.  Nonfit  remained.  Her  love  had  left  such  an 
impression  on  Phil  that  in  proportion  as  he  regretted 
her  death  he  heeded  the  good  advice  and  teachings 
she  had  Q-iven  him.  Such  is  the  transforming'  in- 
fluence  of  kindness  and  love. 

We  were  in  much  the  same  situation  so  far  as  our 
immediate  prospects  were  concerned. 


50  i\  1 77/ i:r   .  I  (;. i  ixs  r  son. 

Andy,  after  niopiiiL;'  arouiid  tlic  place  JVn'  several 
weeks  after  tliis,  left  Uw  paits  niikiiowii.  to  tiii<l,  as 
he  t'X])laiiie(l  in  a  note  wliieli  he  left  in  his  I'oom. 
"•  .Mas"r  IJiifus."" 

As  there  was  now  no  one  in  onr  faniih*  eoni- 
peteiit  to  eare  for  the  place  or  enlti\ate  the  land, 
mother  icnioxrd  to  ( li-andhither  Perkins's,  where 
slie  took  eliarL;'e  of  his  honse.  ( iraiuU'ather  said 
that  the  ho\s,  alhidiiiL;'  to  I'hil  and  nie,  were  hii;' 
eiion^h  to  i>ay  for  their  keep  l>y  working-  on  the 
farm. 

I^'ai'm  work  was  distasteful  to  me.  and  grand- 
hither  was  \cry  exacting,  and.  as  I  thonght,  need- 
lessK  fnss\-.  IMiil  h)oked  u])on  farming  much  as 
I    (li(h   tiiougli   he   did   not   o[ieidy   complain. 

Alter  we  were  in  hed  at  night  it  \\as  a  favorite 
})astime  with  ns  to  talk  of  going  to  sea.  From  the 
standjioint  of  two  l)oys  in  a  eoiidoi'tahle  home  a 
sailor's  lite  ap[ieared  alhu-ing.  I  <le(dared  to  Phil 
that  I  had  always  wanted  to  he  a  sailor.  \Vhile 
his  foi-mer  hard  lessons  in  life  taught  liim  that 
there  would,  as  he  said,  "lie  some  hard  knocks  in 
it,"  yet  in  the  main  lie  agreed  with  me  that  going' 
to    sea   was   preferahle  to  *■•  digging." 

I  linally  hegan  to  urge  mother  to  consent  to  my 
going  to  Pivermonth  with  Captain  Zenas  ^^"illiams 
to  ship  with  him  h)r  a  sea-voyage.  My  mother's 
re[(ly  to  tliese  im})ortunities  had  always  heen  un- 
I'avorahle.  (iraiidhither  had '' poohed  "  at  it,  and 
said  it  was  "•  hare-brained  nonsense."     '•"  Did  n't  you 


.4    MYSTI'UIY.  51 

ever   read    Peter    Parley's    Geoo-rapliy  ?"  said   he. 
"  Is  n't  there  a  verse  in  it  that  reads  : 

'  WiittT  ami  land  \\\um  tlie  face 

<  >f  this   riiuiiil  wdi'M  we  st^c. 
The  laml  i^  man's  >aff  ihsvllinii-place, 

But  ships  sail  on  tlie  sra"? 

''  I  'd  "a"  made  an  amendment  to  tliat  verse  if  I  "d 
liad  the  making  of  that  g"eogra[)hy  ;  I  'd  had  it 
read : 

'Tlie  land  is  man's  safe  dwedling-plaee, 
But  fools  will  '4o  to  sea.'" 

One  evening  Jim  liisbee  visited  ns,  and  on 
aceonnt  of  his  qnaint  talk  (whieh  was  sprinkled 
with  more  than  aeeidental  wisdom)  he  was  a  wel- 
come and  entertaining  visitor. 

''Heard  from  y'r  father  yit,  Hez?"  he  inqnired; 
then  a(hled,  as  if  in  answer  to  his  own  qnestion, 
''  It  "s  awfnl  qneer  he  or  some  'n'  else  don't  Avrite." 

I  said*  "  Yes,  Jim  :  and  1  'm  tr^dng  to  get  mother 
to  consent  to  my  going  to  sea,  on  some  vessel 
l)Oiind  for  Sonthern  ports,  in  hopes  to  learn  some- 
thing aljont  Avliere  father  is." 

''  Sho  !  "  stdd  Jim  slowl}',  looking  fixedly  at  me. 
''  (Join'  t'  sea  ain't  what  it's  cracked  np  to  he,  l)y 
a  long  ehnck.  I  've  ben  t'  sea  myself,  an'  I  rnther 
guess  ef  y'  knew  what  kind  o'  dnin's  an'  the 
topsy-turvy  kind  o'  life  't  is  y'd  never  say  'nother 
word." 

Just  then  mother  came  in,  and  Jim,  to  my  sur- 


52  ;■'.  I  77/ i:ii  .  i  <;.  \  ixs t  sny. 

pi'isc.  turiKMl    like  a  A\calli('r-\'aiit',  and  bcn'an  to  iii- 
tt'ivcdf  witli  lici'   in    liin'  ^\itll  iii\-  wisiics. 

'••  Xaow,  Mis"  Jdliiislonc,""  saiil  -lini.  crossinL;' liis 
It'Ljs  ill  a  <lclil»('i'at(' niaiini'r.  and  ninniiiL;' liis  liii^crs 
tlii-nii^ii  his  hair  as  if  to  ch'ar  his  llaai'^lits.  ••  \'"r 
soli  lic"s  licii  a-d'Uin"  hi'  wants  l"  l;ii1'  sea  :  lir  says 
lie  tliiiilxs  in  that  wnv  \\i-  iiia\'  fall  in  with  his 
father.  lit'/,  is  niirasy  as  he  r"n  be.  an"  the  ^\•av 
he  "s  n'oin"  on  lie  "11  soon  1)('  a  trouhle  t"  y"  aiT 
like  "s  not  no  ad\antaL;('  t"  liiinsclf.  \\v  (hin"t  like 
farniin".  an"  the  s(|uirf  lici'c.  lie  liiinl-;s  a  l;-oo(|  deal 
o"  III'/,,  an"  He/,  sets  a  store  1>\  his  ^'raiTthei- :  liilt 
lie's  like  lighted  toiirhwdod  an"  the  l»oy  is  like 
})o\\'dei',  an"  I  n'licss  "t  is  a  i^ood  idee  t"  kee{>  sei-li 
tliinL;s  in  dil'feriint  parcels  if  v"  do  n"t  want  t"  hlow 
iqi.  I  siinni  I  Ili'z  wants  t"  l;'o  t'  sea  :  or  at  least  lie 
thinks  he  doos.  an"  ef  y"  don"t  look  aout  he  may 
feel  es  ef  he  "d  a  eall  t"  >^n.  anyway,  lie  's  j(\st  said 
t"  nie  that  in  touchin"  at  Southern  ports  he  may 
tind  aout  somethin"  "hout  his  father.  Xaow,  !Mls" 
Johnstone,  wli\-  dou"t  v*  let  him  hev  a  liek  at  sea- 
fai'in"  life?  There's  Xathau  (hillup.  he  didn't 
maount  t'  shucks  on  a  hirm  :  jest  see  what  a 
miyhty  smart  feller  he  makes  as  cap'n  of  a  ship: 
at  least  that  's  A\-hat  they  say.  lleM  "a"  made  a 
poor  stick  of  a  farmer.  T'  git  ahead  in  the  ^^•orld, 
a  feller's  got  t'  work  at  somethin"  lie  likes.  Naow, 
I  kind  o"  \A'lio[)ped  "raoundfrom  one  thing  to  t'  other 
till  I  got  t"  tin-peddlin".  It  fitted  me  jes"  like  a 
glove.     1  knew  the  minnit  1  got  ou  t"  a  tin  eart  that 


A     MYSIllRY.  53 

I  was  made  for  tlie  l)iz  ;  an'  I  "ve  made  a  pooty  fair 
fort'n  at  it,  tu.  Say,  i\Iis"  Johnstone,  why  don't 
y'  let  Hez  go  ?  Ten  chances  t'  one  't  '11  knock  the 
conceit  out  on  'im  ef  y'  let  him  try  it.  NaoAv,  I 
wanted  desp'ritly  t'  go  t'  sea  once  myself.  Father 
up  an'  says,  '  Go  ahead,  Jim ;  an"  when  ye've  got 
tired  o'  sleepin'  on  a  shelf,  come  hum  an'  try  an' 
behave  y'rself  an'  sleep  in  a  reg'lar  bed.' 

"  Wal,  I  went  daown  t'  Rivermouth,  an'  after 
lookin'  up  at  them  tall  masts  an'  understan'in'  I  'd 
got  t'  shin  'em  ef  I  went  b'fore  the  mast,  I  ast  the 
cap'n  ef  thar  wuz  any  place  behind  the  mast  whar 
I  would  n't  hev  t'  shin  them  tall  poles.  He  said, 
guess  1  meant  a  cook's  berth.  Fin'lly,  after  peekin' 
'raound  kinder  anxious-like  most  o'  the  day,  I  did 
ship  as  cook  on  a  thunderin'  gre't  coal  skuner. 

'■'•  Wal,  we  sot  sail  an'  for  'baout  an  hour  every- 
thing was  slick  as  greased  sunshine,  I  snum  I  An' 
then  the  wind  cum  up,  the  waves  sloshed,  an'  jest 
jumped  tliat  ol'  skuner  raound  like  popcorn  in  the 
hot  ashes.  I  wuz  washin'  up  the  dishes,  when 
them  tin  pans  'n'  plates  b'gun  t'  roll  'raound  an' 
slide  'bout  like  all  p'sessed.  An'  then  I  was  con- 
sumedly  sick,  an'  thar  I  wliz,  tryin'  t'  hold  on  t' 
sumthin'  an'  tryin'  t'  ketch  the  pans  an'  things  that 
wuz  a-sloshin'  fust  this  side  an'  then  that  side  like 
mad.  An'  thar  I  wuz  gittin'  sicker  an'  sicker,  an' 
sech  a  mess  raound  that  air  skuner's  kitchen  y' 
never  see,  but  y'U  stan'  a  chance  ef  y'  go  t'  sea,  I 
snum  ! 


54  FAriiri:   A(,Ai\s'r  sox. 

••Fiirily.  1  Ii'm]  i"  lay  daowii:  the  p(»ts  an' 
dislics  niUiu"  I'aoiiiid  witli  uic  on  the  flot)!',  an"  I 
L;-ittiii"  sicker  e\"ery  (IiihiiiumI  inlniiit  t"ll  1  tlioiiylit 
I  sliM  (lie.  I  went  on  in  that  jmorsick  an"  <lyin" 
sl\lc.  the  caiui  jawin"  an"  all  the  I'est  on  "em  niad 
"enz  I  eonld  n't  ^it  Lj-rnh  Cr  'c\\\.  an"  tisin"  had 
lann'iniLi'e    1    wonhl  n"t    n^'   tn   a   sick-   pi^-. 

'•  FiiTllv.""  contiinicd  -lini.  veiy  soleinnlv,  "the 
cap"n  jiiil  inter  lii'id^'epoit.  "  "cnz."  he  said,  "it 
loolvci]  as  it  were  a-L;'oin"  t"  lilow."  Jewhitakerl 
Jest  "s    el'    it    had  !i"t    heL^'iin  .' 

'•  When  that  craft  L;'ot  inter  IJridQ'eport,  I  jest 
hd't  e\'eiy"tliin"  I  had  — cloihcs  an"  sea-notions  — 
an"  I  did  n't  turn  t"  look  at  that  skuner  agin;  ef 
I  lied  1  1)"rie\'e  I  "d  "a"  pid^ed. 

'•  '  Wdiar  l)e  y"r  goin"  /  "   ycdled  the  cap"n. 

•••(ioin"  hnni,"  says  I,  ^\•ithaont  tnrnin"  niv  head, 
the  land  lieavin'an"  oiistiddy-like,  like  the  swashin" 
dee[).  An"  I  }>nt  t'"r  the  steam-ears  an"  got  hum  that 
night  jest  "haoiit  niilkin"-time. 

"■Mother  said  wlieii  I  walked  inter  the  liaouse, 
'•Mercy  sakes  ali\'e,  -lames,  y"  look  like  a  gliosti 
Wliar  did  y"  come  frum?"  An"  1  said,  'Mother, 
I  "\e  come  f"m  the  ravin"  deep  an"  f"m  death's 
door." 

'•  When  father  come  in,  he  said  very  kindly  an' 
smilin"-like,  ••  James,  eat  your  su})per  an"  go  an"  milk 
the  eaows  an'  du  the  chores,"  Y'd  ought  t'  see  me 
spring  tu  it.  Why,  farm  work  Ava'n't  in)t]iin' arter 
that   v'v'ge  :  "" 


A     MYSTERY.  bb 

And  Jim  (.'Inu'lvled  and  iul)l)eMl  down  liis  tmuscrs 
legs,  Avhicli  were  some  distanee  from  his  shoes. 

''Haven't  you  ever  Ijeen  to  sea  sinee,  ^Mister 
Bisl)ee '/ "'  inquired  Phih 

'•'■  Wal —  no,  not  V.aetly ;  I  've  been  t'  the  nied- 
ders  t"  mow  salt  liay,  but  I  "^e  alla's  kep'  witlii  i 
wadin'  distanee  o'  the  sliore,  Iw  gum  I  1  say,  Alis' 
Johnstone,  give  the  1)0}"  a  trial  at  seat'arin'  li!  , 
an'  let  liim  liev  money  enough  so  he  e'n  git  huM 
f'ni  any  reasonable  distanee  "thout  walkin'." 

]My  mother,  perhaps  l)eeause  she  thouglit,  like 
Bisbee,  that  I  should  get  siek  of  the  sea  and  be 
thereafter  contented  to  stay  at  home,  tinally  eon- 
sented  to  my  going  on  a  voyage  with  Captain 
Zenas  Williams,  if  he   would  take  me. 


56  FATIU'II    ACLiJXSr    SON. 


riIAPTEI{  VT. 


,  7? 


ox  I!(»ai;l)  Till-:    isinc   •■  I'A vdrite 

Now  tliat  it  was  at  last  settled  lliat  I  was  ,L;-(tinn' 
til  sea,  at  least  mie  N'oya^'e.  iieilliei'  I'liiliKir  I  cinild 
talk'  (if  aii\  t hiiiL;'  else,  for  JMiil  liad  made  iijiliis 
iiiiiid  that  if  ('a]»tain  Zeiias  Williams  A\'(iid(l  take 
]iim  lie  would  l;()  with  me. 

We  were  talking'  at  the  lu'eakfast-lahle  al)()iit  it, 
^\•|lell  i^'raiidfatlier  sail]  :  '"  1  siqipose  it  is  all  settled 
IKiW,  I  le/,.  except  wliat  positinli  \-()ll  'II  take,  wlietlier 
hefoi'e  tliemastor,  like  Jim  IJisltee, /'r/y/y/</ the  mast ; 
oi'  pei'liaps  you  "11  take  C'ap"u  Williams's  plaee  as 
master  ? "" 

•'I  expeet,"'  I  re[tlied,  "to  Ixyniu  at  tlu^  bottom 
and  leaiii  the  business,  grandfather."" 

"  W(dl,""  said  lie  more  seriously,  "whatever  you 
do,  Ilez,  do  it  well,  and  remember  tliat  honesty  is 
the  foundation  of  sueeess.  lie  respeetful  to  every 
one  —  your  father  has  taught  you  that:  and  re- 
member that  a  dollar  in  your  poeket  is  a  good 
friend." 

When  night  came  Phil  and  I  lay  awake  as  long 
as  we  could,  talking  of  adventures  on  the  .sea.  AVe 
seldom  got  to  sleep  before  being  east  away  on  what 
Phil  ealled  a  ''  desperate  "*  island  apiece,  for  we  did 


ON    BOARD     THE    BlllG    "  FAV< iniTi:.'"      57 

not  agree  as  to  the  niatenal  tol)e  cast  awa\-  witli  us. 
I  wanted  to  be  left  on  a  desolate  island  \\\{\\  noth- 
ing but  a  suit  of  clothes,  while  Pliil  a\-ou1(1  not.  con- 
sent to  be  cast  away  without  a  shi[)ful  (-1  good 
things  with  him  to  make  life  cheerful.  We  usually 
compromised  l)y  Pliihs  l)eing  wrecked  on  an  island 
near  to  mine.  '*  Then,"  he  would  say,  "•  it  would  l)e 
handy  for  you  to  come  over  and  Ijorrow  the  tilings 
you  needed. " 

Captain  Zenas  at  last  came  liome  froni  a  voyage, 
and  mother  waited  on  him,  accom|)aniedby  Phil  and 
me. 

The  captain  w^as  a  rosy-elieeked,  sedate-looking 
man,  with  very  little  of  the  appearance  of  a  sailor ; 
but  at  times  there  was  an  expression  in  his  face  that 
showed  to  me  that  he  was  a  man  not  to  Ije  trifled 
with. 

Mother  made  her  application,  to  which  the  cap- 
tain at  first  replied  adversely,  saying,  '•'  I  don't  like 
to  take  my  neighbors'  boys  to  sea,  because  at  sea  no 
favors  can  be  shown  to  any  one  ;  even  boys  have 
got  to  be  men  at  sea,  ma'm  !  " 

At  last  he  yielded  to  many  flattering  persuasions 
urged  by  mother,  and  agreed  to  take  us  witli  him  on 
what  he  called  a  trial  trip.  '•'■  Then  w^e  can  see,"  he 
said,  "  how  the  brig  and  the  boys  will  jibe  together." 

Then  came  the  excitement  of  getting  us  ready, 
for  clothes  had  to  be  made  especially  for  service  at 
sea. 

While    these  preparations    were    going    on,  Jim 


58  FATIIlin    AGAINST    SON. 

nislu'c  (Mine  ill  1(1  talk  tiling's  ovci',  and  make  sng- 
gcstidiis  (liawn  from  liis  (_'X|)L']-u'1ic('  on  tli(.'  de(.'[i  in 
a  ('(lal   sc]i( M mcr. 

"('a])"ii  Zciias.  (lid  y'say?"  said  Jim  crossing' 
Ills  Ioiil;'  1('.l;'s  and  assuming-  a  look  of  fox-like  sa- 
l^aeitv.  ••  \\"al,  iiaow.  Mis"  Joliiistolie.  lie  "s  a  j^'ood 
man  ashore,  he  *s  one  o"  the  pillars  o'  the  eliiireh,  ef 
not  half  o"  the  hull  o"  the  Ijclhel  daoun  there  t' 
J{i\-ermaoutli  \\hei'(^  they  du  say  he  runs  the  Inill 
thiiiL;-  an'  preaehes.  tu,  sometimes.  liut  y"  know  a 
man  is  kind  "o  diff"i'uiit  when  he's  on  the  rollin" 
dee[>  :  the  best  on  'em  "11  act  kind  'o  tearin"  like, 
when  lliin^s  is  a-eiittin*  u[»  an*  howlin"  an"  tossin".*' 
and  -lim  heax'ed  a  [>rofonnd  sii_;li  of  sympathx'  at 
wliat  was  before  us.  I  had  hard  work  to  keep 
from  laug'liing  outright,  for  I  had  not  forgotten 
Jim's   description  of  his  sea    \'oyage. 

"Captain  Williams,""  interrupted  mother,  'Ms 
different  from  ordinary  rough  and  profane  sailoi's, 
and  that  is  the  reason  I  want  llez  to  go  to  sea  with 
liim  ;   he's  a  Chi'istian  man."" 

'"Ilnm!"'  ejaculated  Jim.  stroking  his  cliin 
th(»ughtfnlly  :  "yes,  lie  ix  a  pooty  goo(l  man,  an" 
well  spoken,  hut  then  —  Say,  did  y"  liear  "haout 
their  church  maulin'  him  at  Jii\"ermaouth  f"r  cuss- 
in',  once?  "' 

"No,"'  said  mother,  "and  1  don't  believe  any- 
thing said  against  such  a  man,  either;  envy  loves 
a  shining  mark." 

"  iJill  Hardin*,  one  o*  them  liivennaouth  men," 


ON    BOARD    THE    BRIG    '•FAVORITE:''      59 

continued  Jim,  not  noticing  my  mother's  remark, 
"  went  t'  sea  'fore  the  mast  Avith  C'a[»'n  Zenas ; 
an'  when  he  come  hum  —  y '  see  he  b'k^ng'ed  t'  the 
Bethel  tu  —  he  ^lut  in  a  e(.)mplaint  t'  the  chui'ch, 
an'  they  hauled  him  over  the  eoals  f'r  eussin'  liis 
men  at  sea. 

"AVal,  Cap'n  Zenas  he  stood  up  t'  the  rack 
an"  totdv  it  like  a  man.  He  owned  up  tliat  he 
swore  sometimes,  but  not  in  any  irreligious  man- 
ner, but  as  a  cap'n  of  a  brig,  perfessionally.  Then 
he  turned  on  l>ill  Hardin'  an'  said,  '  Brethering,  I 
had  a  duty  t'  perform  f'r  the  OA^'uers  an'  under- 
writers, an'  there  ain't  a  man  here,'  he  said,  '  that 
can  skipper  a  craft  an'  not  swear,  with  such  men 
'fore  the  mast  as  that  air  Bill  Hardin' ! ' 

"  The  officers  an'  Ijretheiing  was  mostl}'  sea- 
farin'  folks,  an'  they  l)rought  in  'ginst  the  cap'n 
thet  it  w^iz  in  evidence  that  he  bed  used  strong- 
language  at  sea,  but  it  \\'uz  also  shown  thet  it 
wa'  n't  used  in  a  profane  or  irreligious  manner, 
but  as  the  cap'n  of  a  ship,  J  snum  ef  they  didn't," 
and  Jim  chuckled  and  added,  ''l)ut  Cap'n  Zenas 
is  a  respectable  man,  Mis'  Johnstone,  an'  1  don't 
think  the  sea  lies  hardened  his  heart  like  it  had 
the  ole  chap  I  sailed  Avith,  —  sailors  ain't  like  other 
people  ;  the  terrors  o'  the  deep  are  awful  provokin', 
Mis'  Johnstone.  Ef  y'  could  hev  jest  seed  me 
on  thet  ole  coal  skuner  3^'  would  n't  wonder  sail- 
ors lose  the'r  presence  of  mind,  an'  —  mos'  every- 
thing else,  I  snum,  sometimes." 


60  FATHI.Il    ACAIXST    S(>X. 

It  was  a  iiidiiu'iil  of  L;rt'at  cxcitciuriit  wlicii  Phil 
and  I,  ill  tiiirsca  ri^'s,  went  (in  lioai-d  llie  l)ri^'  ••  l*'a- 
voritc,""  at  IJi\"cniioiil  li.  TIk-  crcal^inL;'  of  tin.' 
l)locl>;s  and  llic  snirll  ol'  tar  all  had  a  chaiin  for  us 
whicli  cannot  ]>r  rxpn-sscil  in  \\'ords.  lait  A\'hich 
nian\    will    nndcrstand. 

V\\'  hrst  L;-ot  oui'  chests  into  tlic  forecastle,  Avhitdi 
M'as  a  small,  lilacf;.  ill-snielliny  hole,  in  which  six 
men  besides  us  lto\s  were  to  ha\e  a  home.  An 
old  sailor  named  Tarhox  showed  us  our  lierths  and 
whei'e  to  stow  away  <iur  •' duds,"'  as  he  called  them, 
alter  wdiieh  we  went  on  deck. 

Tlie  hi'iL;'  ^\'as  a  trim-lookiuL;-  craft:  her  white 
decks,  and  well-set  up  I'i^Lj'inL;'.  and  fresh  paint 
showiuL;'  ad\antaL;'eously  in  contrast  with  the  din^y 
colliers  and  liimhermen  and  other  coasters  which 
lay   at    the   whar\('s. 

^Ve  soon  l)e_L;an  to  explore  her,  after  wdiieh  we 
anuised  oursehes  liy  going  aloft  and  seeing  wdiieh 
could  liist  I'each  the  masthead.  While  thus  en- 
gaged the  captain  came  on  hoard,  and  for  a  while 
looked  on  at  A\hat  I>ill  Tarliox  called  our  "sky- 
larking." 

I  heard  the  ea})tain  say,  ••They'll  do;  they  git 
round  "niong  the  riggin"  as  ipiick'  as  cats." 

■•Ay,  ay,"  gi'owded  1)111  d'arhox,  "'htit  it'll  lie 
diff'i'cnt  h)r  the  ^•(.)ungsters  in  a  gale  o"  wind!" 

That  niglil  we  sle[)t  in  the  forecastle,  liut  got 
our  sup[)er  up  town.  The  next  day,  the  last  of  the 
brig's   cargo — several    hundred   quintals   of   dried 


ON    BOARD     THE    BRIO    -  FAVORITE^      61 

fish,  also  a  large  (jnantity  of  salt,  and  several  large 
l)(>xt's  (ir  cases  —  was  stdwed  l)el<»w  decks.  In  the 
afternoon  we  pulled  out  into  the  stream  ready  to 
sail  on  the  morrow,  "wind  and  tide,"  as  Bill  Tar- 
l)ox  said,  '••[)ermitting." 

I  had  my  first  meal  on  board  that  evening,  and 
then  learned  that  in  tlie  forecastle  of  a  ship  there  are 
no  such  things  as  a  table,  knives,  forks,  spoons,  or 
crockery.  The  '"kid,"  around  \\  hich  we  sat  on 
the  deck,  contained  a  piece  of  ''salt  junk"  and  a 
few  boiled  potatoes,  to  which  we  hel[)ed  ourselves 
by  cutting  from  the  meat  with  our  sheath  knives. 
(The  kid,  let  me  explain,  is  a,  tub  bound  with  iron 
hoops.)  ^\s  we  crawled  out  of  the  dismal  fore- 
castle after  this  unpalataljle  meal,  Phil  nudged 
me  and  said,  ''  Say,  Ilez,  we  're  livin"  like  pigs, 
ain't  Ave  ?  " 

That  night  I  stood  my  first  "  watch  "  on  board 
ship.  I  walked  "fore  and  aft,*' looking  over  the 
taffrail  and  bows  at  every  round,  feeling  that  the 
safety  of  the  ship  depended  on  my  vigilance  and 
fidelity.  When  I  Avas  at  last  relieved,  one  can 
imagine  \\o\\  horrified  I  was  to  see  the  old  sailor 
who  relieved  me  stow  himself  away  in  a  snug  spot, 
and  light  his  pipe  for  a  smoke  ! 

"  Is   that    alloAvable    on  shipboard  ? "     I   asked. 

"  Avast  there  and  belay  I  "  ejaculated  the  old  salt ; 
"tlie  barnacles  can't  come  up  through  the  bottom 
o'  the  brig,  nor  th'  sky  tuml)le  on  to  th'  mainmast 
when  she  's  in  harbor  an'  safe  at  anchor." 


62  FATifi:n   A(;aixst  soy. 

I  ^vt'llt  l)cl(»w  ;iii(l  liii-iicd  in  "  all  stairiii".'"  as  IJill 
Tarlxix  called  it  (tlial  is.  with  iin' clotlics  on).  It 
st'cmcd  to  me  I  had  no  sooner  i^ot  to  slee[)  than  I 
lieard  thnnniiiiL;'  <iu  tlie  hatch  and  the  loii^-drawn 
out  call  iVoiu  the  decd<.  —  "  All-stai--how-lines  ahoy  I 
iMi^ht   hells  there  ludoW"!      I  )o  Voll   heal'  the  news',''"" 

It  I  thought  it  a  hardship  to  he  awakened  and 
calle(l  on  deck  at  that  time,  how  much  harder  was 
it  afterwai'ds.  when  at  sea.  with  the  attendant  dis- 
comh)rts.  I  answered  similar  calls  to  dutv. 

I  scrand)led  on  deed;  with  m\'e\'es  hut  half  o})en, 
wishiuL;'  I  could  onl\-  just  sleep  a  few  moments 
lone('i-.  ( )n  assumiuL;'  my  duties.  I  was  instructed 
to  call  the  ca[)tain  if  the  wind  (diaiiLjt'd.  My 
wattdi  was  nearly  out  when  the  wind  came 
around  to  the  northward  and  eastward,  and  I 
calletl  the  captain.  It  was  l)iitad  daylight  wdieii 
he  came  on  deck,  lie  told  me  to  call  all  hands  at 
once.  I  did  this  as  instructed,  though  I  was 
aware  that  neither  my  maimer  nor  voice  had  a  very 
nautical  style.  IJill  I'arhox  afterwards  said  "it 
sounded  more  like  ^  cock-a-doodle  doo  "  than  "all 
hands  on  deed-;  ahoy  I  " 

The  men  came  on  deck  at  the  call,  however,  like 
magic.  They  loosened  the  sails  and  hraced  the 
yards  amidst  what  seemed  to  me  a  hahel  of  unin- 
telligihle  sea-cries  and  sounds.  The  orders  were  ra[)- 
idly  given  and  executed,  we  manned  the  windlass, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  anelioi'  was  up  and  we 
wi'ie  lavinu'  our  course  down  the  Sound. 


ON'    BOARD    THE    lUlia    '•  FAVORITE^      03 

TIr'  first  mate,  tlirouyli  Avhoni  caiiu'  all  oi'dci's 
to  the  men  on  tlie  deek,  Avas  a  A\eatlier-l)eateii  old 
sea-dog,  witli  a  face  the  eolor  of  Ihissia  leather, 
and  a  voiee  that  sounded  as  if  a  s(]nall  of  Avindhad 
strut'k  the  riggino-.  He  was  a  good  seaman,  so 
I)ill  Tarljox  said,  Imt,  to  {[Uote  the  same  atithoi'- 
ity,  ''too  much  given  to  s[)liein'  the  main  l)ra(;e.''' 

I  did  not  understand  the  term  until  Bill  had 
accompanied  it  in  pantomime,  as  if  taking  a  drink 
from  an  invisible  glass.  As  tlie  mate  walked  the 
deck,  his  hands  hanging  by  his  sides,  like  hooks 
spliced  to  liandspikes,  he  seemed  to  me  arbitrary, 
tyrainiical,  and  in  all  respects  the  reverse  of  what  a 
gentleman  should  be. 

The  Avind  was  blowing  quite  fresh,  and  ))efore 
we  had  Ijeen  out  in  the  Sound  an  hour  both  Phil 
and  I  were  dreadfully  sick.  We  took  Bill  Tarl  )ox's 
advice,  and  made  just  as  little  of  our  sickness  as 
was  possible,  though  the  smell  of  bilge-water  in 
the  forecastle,  when  T  went  Ijelow  while  off  duty, 
did  n't  help  me  to  any  appreciable  degree.  So,  fol- 
lowing the  advice,  Ave  both  did  our  l)est  to  keep 
on  our  feet  and  at  our  duties,  though,  I  must  con- 
fess, it  Avas  tough.  But  on  a  ship  there  is  no  cod- 
dling, and  sickness  of  any  kind  gets  but  little 
sympathy,  for,  as  Bill  said,  "  A  man  don't  come  to 
sea  for  his  health." 

By  the  time  Ave  had  reached  New  York  Ave  got 
over  being  sick,  for  that  time  at  least.  I  AA^as  sick 
several  times  after  this,  however,   during    rough 


64 


F.VniEll    A<,MSSr    SOS. 


W'riitlici'.  ;tii(l  soiiirtiiiU'S  when  it  w;is  not  roug-h,  in 
i^oiiiL;'  aloft.  DnriiiL;'  our  tri[»  down  the  Soiiiid,  I 
waited  on  tlic  captain.  ;snd  Icai'iicd  the  names  of  tlic 
sails  and  ropes,  and  the  meaning'  of  ""port"'  and 
■■'starltoard."' 

\\v  airivc(l  in  New  "^'ork  on  Sumlay  :  and  as  that 
day  was  a  day  of  rest,  after  a  fashion.  e\'en  on  ship- 
hoard,  we  were  allo\\"ed  to  ^o  on  shore. 

Here  Phil  showe(l  me  tiie  places  with  which  he 
was  familiar,  aial.  as  I  hail  not  heen  in  New  York 
hefoi'c.  1  was  \'ery  nnich  interested.  We  rand)led 
around  near  the  I>owei'y.  when,  stopping-  lietVire  a 
dingy,  (hla})ilated  luiilding.  in  a  dirty  alleyway, 
Phil  ran  u[)  a  }»aii'  of  i/reaky,  narrow  stairs  and 
kno(d<ed  at  a  door  that  seemed  drojtping  from  its 
hinges. 

\  hkMr-eyed  woman,  slatteridy  and  sonr-faeed, 
answered  the  call.  ''There,""  said  Phil,  "-is  where 
I  lived  with  Alarm  (iiirley,  Itut  they  don"t  know 
anything  alxnit  lier.  and  J  s"[)ose  it  "s  like  looking 
for  a  chip  thrown  o\'erlioard  on  Long  Island  Sound 
to  ti'v  to  find  liei'  in  this  hig  jilace."" 

As  we  were  making  onr  A\ay  haidv  to  the  "  Fa- 
vorite."' we  encountered  the  mate  coming  out  of  one 
of  the  many  driid-:ing-plaet's  that  detile  that  qnarter 
of  tlie  eity.  His  eyes  were  bleared,  his  steps  loose 
and  nneertain. 

'^  Whew  I ""  said  Phil,  in  a  low  tone,  as  the  mate 
passed  witliottt  noticing  us:  '-he  hasn't  heen  to 
church  or  Sitndav-school  :  hishreath  sticks  t)Utlike 


ON    BOARD    Tin:    niLlG    "  FAVOIUTE:'      65 

the  llyiiiq-  jib-boom  of  the  brig  ;  you  can  hang  your 
hat  on  it,  it 's  so  strong  !  '" 

That  afternoon,  after  we  had  got  l)aek  to  tlie 
Inig,  the  mate  came  on  l)oard,  as  ]5iII  said,  "  with 
tlu'ee  sheets  in  the  wind,  an'  t'  other  shiverin  "  I  " 

The  captain,  who  had  been  to  church,  also  put 
ill  an  appearance  on  the  quarter-deck.  An  hour 
hiter  we  pulled  out  into  the  stream,  the  wind  l)eing 
favorable,  and  were  off  Sandy  Hook  l)y  sundown. 

The  next  day  the  weather  was  tine,  and  I  began 
to  think  that  I  should  like  a  sailor's  life.  I  said 
something  like  that  to  an  old  salt,  when  he  made 
me  the  unexpected  reply,  ''So  would  any  old 
woman  in  the  country,"  and  then  crossly  added, 
"  There  ain't  wind  'nough  to  fill  y"r  hat." 

That  night,  liowever,  we  had  a  disagreeable 
change.  I  was  fast  asleep,  when  I  was  awakened 
l)y  three  thunderous  blows  on  the  booby-hatch, 
and  the  call,  ''  All  hands  on  deck  !  "  On  reaching 
the  deck  w^e  found  a  heavy  cloud  darkening  the 
sky.  We  had  barely  time  to  haul  down  and  clew 
up,  before  a  squall  struck  us,  and  the  water  was 
pouring  in  the  port  bows  and  the  hawser  hole,  while 
at  the  lee  scuppers  it  was  over  boots  in  water.  The 
decks  were  as  steep  as  a  roof,  and  the  brig  w^as  tear- 
ing through  the  water  like  mad  witli  a  lather  of 
foam  at  her  bows.  Both  Phil  and  T  sprung  aloft 
with  the  rest,  and  though  avc  were  of  Ijut  little 
assistance,  much  is  forgiven  to  green  hands  that 
show  good  will,  and  we  did  our  Ijest.     In  a  very 


66  iwriiEi:   acmxst  sox. 

short  time  tlie  sails  wcw  I'urk'd  or  recft'd,  l)ut  we 
rciiiaiiicd  on  deck,  sea-sick,  cliilled,  and  l>eiiuinl)ed 
with  wet  and  rol(L 

I  thoiiu'lit  \\r  had  (.'scajifd  ^'I'eat  ]>eril,  and  said  as 
mueli  at'lfrwaril  lo  Hill,  liii  t  he  loolv  l  he  wind  out  of 
my  sail,  as  saihirs  say.  l»y  lan'_;iiin;.;  \\\\^\  saying;',  ''It 
\\an"1  iiothin"  Iml  a  jintl'  o"  wind,  \  ou  lidtliei'!  A\'ait 
till  a  ,L;'ale  coiiifs  so  y"ll  lia\'e  to  liold  \'v  hair  on."" 

\\r  ai'ri\('(l  at  Xoi-|'oll<  in  the  coni'sc  of'  a  week, 
and  li\'  that  lime  hotli  IMiil  and  I  had  l)ecoinf  in  part 
accirstonird  to  the  lil'e,  and  eonld  at  h'ast  (hi  a  little 
H'ood  scr\  ice.  Unt  it  was  a  doL^'V  lil'e.  as  the  ^'rowl- 
\\\'j^  old  sailors  justly  called  it.  There  is  nothing' 
regular  ahout  life  on  shiphoai'd  :  there  are  no 
state<l  houi's  of  slecj)  that  may  not  at  an\-  time  he 
liroken  in  upon  h\-  an  emergency,  oi'  l)y  the  eapriee 
of  the  ea|)tain  or  some  other  ol'licer  of  the  shi[).  "A 
good  sailor,"  said  lUll  Tarljox,  '•  slee[is  when  he  ean, 
for  wlien  at  sea  he  don't  know  when  he'll  git 
another  chanee." 

On  our  arrival  at  Norfolk  we  l)egan  diseliarging 
a  portion  of  our  cargo. 

While  in  this  port  I  Avent  u[)  toAvn,  and  while 
waiting  for  a  re[)ly  to  a  note  from  the  captain,  Avhieh 
I  liad  delivered,  heard  mueh  talk  al)Out  "Yankee 
al)olitionists." 

"•  What  have  the  Yankees  done  ?  ''  I  innocently 
asked  of  the  clerk  at  the  oftiee  where  I  had  de- 
livered the  note. 

"  Why,  the  rascals  have  elected  a  president  of 


ox  HOARD   Till-:  iinid  ■•  FA  von  in:."'    t;7 

their  own,"  he  replied,  ''and  that  will  ()l)liL;'e  us  to 
go  out  of  the  Union/' 

We  sailed  from  Norfolk  to  Xewl)erne,  X.C,  where, 
after  a  rough  voyage,  even  wlien  measured  l)y  Bill 
Tarbox's  standard,  we  arrived  in  due  season.  Long 
before  this  we  had  occasion  to  remember  Jim  Bis- 
bee's  saying,  "•  Goin"  to  sea  ain't  what  it's  cracked 
up  to  be  I  "  All  its  romance  had  faded,  and  we  had 
got  down  to  its  grim,  prosaic,  and  uncomfortable 
reality. 


68  FA'nii:n  ahaixsi'  son. 


CIIAPTEPv    VII. 


AT  ni:\vi;i:i;xp:. 


l)ri;TN(;  tlic  iv\\)  t(i  Xcwlierne  tlic  first  mate, 
wlio  at  l)('st  was  wliat  \V\\\  'I'ai'luix  called  a  "■cross- 
j^raiiit'd  sticl^,""  \\as  mad*'  tiioi'i'  than  usitally  \\'j\\ 
l»y  l)ciii:L;'  partially  uiidei'  tlir  inlhiciicc  of  li(]U(»r 
wliicli   lie  liad   biou^'lit   on  l)oard  a1    Norfolk. 

Tlic  second  male,  Mr.  Kohert  In'll,  was  a  good 
sailoi'  and,  as  tlie  sailors  all  a^'reed.  a  q'cntlc- 
man.  lie  liad  sliip[ied  on  tlie  "Favorite"'  at 
Kivermoutli.  where,  it  was  i'eport<'d,  he  had  jnst 
before  arri\-ed  as  lirst  mate  of  a  shi[),  from  a  voyage 
aronnd  the  world.  Mr.  lUdl  was  as  line  a  speci- 
nu'n  of  an  American  sailor  (and  I  now  speak  with 
a  niueli  wider  knowledge  than  I  then  had)  as  I  liave 
ever  seen.  Not  only  was  lie  a  fine  sailor,  edueated 
in  seamanshi[),  as  one  of  onr  old  salts  declared, 
"  way  to  the  tips  of  his  toes,"  bnt  his  strong  and 
handsome  face  was  set  off  l)y  nnnsnally  good  taste 
in  dress,  gracefnl  carriage,  and  scru})nlons  })e]'sonal 
neatness. 

The  second  officer  of  a  ship,  as  most  sailors  will 
agree,  has  an  exceedingly  difficnlt  position  to  fill, 
for  he  has  no  associates  among  tlie  common  sailors 
for  he  is  not  one  of  them,  and  yet  he  is  expected  to 


AT    NEW  BERNE.  09 

lead  them,  and  be  foremost  in  their  duties  aloft, 
and  ill  reefing  he  takes  the  weather  earing.  He 
has  the  captain's  watch  at  sea,  and  while  he  takes 
his  meals  and  sleeps  in  the  cabin,  he  rarely  asso- 
ciates on  terms  of  equality  with  the  captain  and 
his  first  olficer.  In  port  he  is  the  ship's  stevedore, 
and  at  sea  he  is  the  ship's  servant,  as  sailors  say. 

^Ir.  Bell's  manner  was  pleasant  though  decided ; 
never  familiar  to  his  superiors  in  rank,  nor  to  the 
sailors  in  the  forecastle ;  he  never  assumed  nor 
condescended ;  he  listened  respectfully,  and  obeyed 
orders  quickly,  as  a  sailor  should.  Owing  to  his 
apparent  superiority  in  seamanship  as  well  as  in 
manners,  there  were  many  surmises  among  the 
men  in  the  forecastle  why  he  had  accepted  a  posi- 
tion as  second  mate  on  board  of  the  "  Favorite," 
and  that  too  at  a  time  when  good  officers  were  in 
great  demand  on  first-class  ships  and  sailing  crafts 
of  all  kinds. 

From  JNIr.  Bell's  coming  on  board  the  brig  at 
Rivermouth,  the  first  mate,  either  through  jealousy 
or  natural  ugliness  and  an  unreasonable  temper, 
had  in  every  waj  possible  for  a  man  in  his  posi- 
tion tried  to  make  the  second  officer's  place 
unpleasant.  But  the  latter  adroitly  avoided  the 
nautical  traps  set  by  his  superior,  and  passed 
unnoticed  his  crossness,  anger,  and  want  of  good 
manners,  as  he  would  an  angry  gust  of  wind  or  a 
dash  of  salt  water. 

"  It 's  because  Mr.  Bell 's  a  first-class  sailor  an' 


70  FATHER    AG.UXST    SOX. 

a  iirst-class  luaii."  said  Uill,  "  that  lie  takes  tlie 
mate's  liaziii"  so  cnolly  an"  as  a  matter  n"  cdurse  ; 
lie's  a  Letter  sailoi'  an"  a  Letter  man  tliaii  tliat  old 
duffer  of  a  lirst  mate."" 

Those,  lio\\e\('r,  wlio  were  students  of  Ininiaii 
nature  nii_L;Iit  at  limes  lia\i'  seen  on  tlie  fare  of  Mr. 
Uell  an  e\[)ression  \\liit'h  lioded  n(.>  ;^()od  for  the 
th-st    oflieer. 

^Ir.  r>ell  not  oidv  treated  Pliil  and  me  consider- 
alel\',  lint  was  si'iuiiin^ly  nnudi  interested  in  us 
and  in  oui- pro^iress  in  h'anuuL;'  tlie  duties  of  sailoi'S. 
lie  not  onl\'  s|)oke  to  us  in  a  [ileasant  manner, 
but  "iMit  himself  out  ""  to  insti'Uet  us  in  our  duties. 
This  was  in  mai'ked  eonti'ast  with  the  manner  (jf 
till'  llrst  mate  toward  us.  He,  from  our  lirst  I'oniing- 
on  hoard,  treated  us  as  intruders  and  interlopers; 
especially  was  this  true  of  his  treatment  of  uie,  for 
whom  he  seemed  to  ha\e  taken  a  special  dislike. 

On  the  trip  from  Norfolk  to  Xcwherne  Mr. 
Ilardiny  had  called  me  to  stand  hy  the  wheel.  It 
was  roug'h  weather,  and  I,  heing'  not  aci/ustonied  to 
the  duties  of  helnisnian,  of  course  did  not  suit  him 
at  a  time  which  would  have  tried  the  skill  of  one 
much  more  experienced.  I  did  my  hest,  liowever, 
and  I  douht  if  he  would  have  been  better  suited 
had  T  bei'U  able  to  steer  miudi  lietter.  As  it  was, 
when  the  brig  ^•aried  a  }>oint  at  times,  owing'  to 
my  lack  of  both  skill  and  strength,  he  began  to 
curse  me  in  a  very  foul  and  abusive  maiuier,  and 
tinally,  though   I   had  made  no  reply  (though  some 


AT    NEWBiniNE.  71 

of  my  contempt  and  disgnst  for  the  man  may  have 
been  seen  in  my  face),  he  exchiimed,  "•  I  "11  teach 
you,  you  surly  dog,  to  sulk  and  look  black  at  mc." 
And  with  this  he  seized  a  rope  and  struck  mc,  and 
was  about  to  repeat  the  blow  when  the  ca[)tain, 
coming  out  of  the  cabin,  arrested  his  hand,  saying 
in  his  coldest  tones, 

"  None  of  that,  ]Mr.  Harding ;  I  will  have  no 
punishments  on  board  this  brig  without  my  orders, 
and  in  no  case  while  a  man  is  at  the  wheel." 

Some  hot  words  followed. 

"You  take  a  land-luljl)er  on  l)oard,"  said  the 
mate  angrily,  "  to  l)oost  through  the  cal)in  window, 
but  you  must  n't  expect  me  to  help  you  do  it." 

"  Let  me  hear  no  more  of  this.  You  have  hazed 
the  men  ever  since  we  began  this  voyage,  so  I  am 
afraid  we  shall  be  left  short-handed  before  we  get 
back  to  New  York,"  said  the  captain.  "  I  won't 
have  any  more  of  it.  Let  me  hear  any  inore  such 
talk  and  I  will  send  you  to  the  forecastle  to  do  duty." 

"You  darsn't  do  it,"  growled  the  mate  under 
his  breath,  but  at  the  same  time  cowering  and 
obeying  the  captain. 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  talk  and  many  conject- 
ures among  the  men  in  the  forecastle,  ^^'hy,  after 
such  a  breach  of  discipline  as  well  as  unusual  prov- 
ocation, the  captain  did  not  "break"  tlie  mate  as 
he  had  threatened  and  send  him  to  the  forecastle  to 
do  duty  as  a  common  sailor,  as  was  the  captain's 
right,  and  perhaps  his  dut}-. 


72  FAriiER   AOAixsr  snx. 

'•I']]  tell  }-(»n,""  said  .lim  Cuiiklin.  a  I'cil-lieaded 
sailor  and  a  sort  oL'  a  -sliiirs  lawyer."  as  sailors  rail 
tlu'  s|)rci(.'S.  ••he  's  !_;-ut  Sdiue  kind  of  a  hold  on  tlie  old 
man  or  he  ^\■onld  n"t  take  so  nindi  slark  from  him."" 

"  Wal.""  said  I)ill  Tarhox.  slo^\•ly  turninj^'  his 
([nid  in  hi?;  check,  '•I've  sailed  with  ( "a}i*n  Zeiias 
off  "n"  (»n  ([uite  a  s^xdl,  an"  he  's  a  very  considerate 
an"  jnst  man,  hnt  F  never  kne^\'  o"  his  takin"  l)a''k 
talk  or  slack  <)"  the  jnw  from  any  one  l)"fore,  an" 
"tween  ^■on  "n"  me  "ii"  the  niainm"st  it  looks  "s  though 
the  mate  InfJ  got  a  round  turn  "nd  a  hig'ht  on  th' 
ol"   man."* 

Such  was  the  general  opinion  in  the  forecastle, 
where  it  was  agreed  1»y  all  that  the  ca})tain,  though 
an  easy-going  man  when  things  went  t(_)  suit,  was 
as  hard  as  iron  \\hen  anyone  didn't  'Mnind  his 
eye,""   or  ^vas   lacking   in   respect   to  officers. 

It  must  not  he  inh-rred  from  the  foregoing  inci- 
dent that  I  was  dull  in  leai'iiing  the  duties  of  a 
seaman.  ()n  the  conti'ary  I  had  (as  no  less  an 
authority  in  seaniairshi[)  than  liill  Tarhox  declared) 
improved  A\'onderfully.  1  had  learned  to  knot 
and  reef,  could  liox  the  com[)ass,  knew  the  mean- 
ing of  most  of  the  orders  for  working  the  ship, 
and  coTdd  steer  a  trick  at  tlie  ^^'heel  in  fair  or 
ordinary  weather. 

Phil  liad  made  progress  e(jual  to  if  not  greater 
than  mine.  ()f  the  two  lie  was  the  nimljler  in 
laying  aloft,  and  from  the  lirst,  if  not  a  better 
sailor,  was  a  more  ready  one  than  I. 


AT    NEWnKllNE.  73 

From  our  coming  on  board  lie  was  in  greater 
favor  with  all  on  the  brig  than  I.  In  teni[)eranient 
we  were  opposites  :  I  was  by  nature  grave,  eokl, 
and  unsmiling  in  my  manner,  and  did  not  relish 
familiar  ty,  sueh  as  being  slapped  on  the  shoulder 
by  a  casual  acquaintance,  Avliile  l^hil,  though  not 
lacking  in  pioper  dignity,  had  a  laughing,  smiling 
manner  that  thawed,  like  sunshine,  the  coldest 
uatures  into  a  liking  for  him.  In  learning  there  was 
also  a  difference.  Phil  learned  as  if  by  intuition,  or, 
as  Bill  said,  "  as  if  he  'd  learnt  it  all 't  once  an'  was 
simply  pickin'  up  ag'in  what  he  'd  partly  forgot." 

On  the  other  hand  I  learned  by  patient  applica- 
tion and  careful  attention  to  the  minutest  details  ; 
but  what  I  learned  I  did  not  forget,  and  could 
always  make  use  of  it,  or,  as  ^Ir.  Bell  once  flat- 
teringly said,  "  could  apply  in  practice  what  I  had 
learned  in  theory,  and  make  a  little  knowledge  go 
a  great  way." 

Phil  had  a  wonderful  liking  for  ]Mr.  Bell,  and 
could  not  sound  his  praises  too  highly  ;  he  often 
said,  "  He  puts  me  in  mind  of  your  father."  This 
offended  me,  for  I  felt  in  my  heart  that  there  was 
no  one  to  be  compared  with  him. 

"  You  compare  Mr.  Bell  with  my  father,"  I  said, 
"  but  there  is  no  resemblance." 

"  Now,  don't  get  in  a  freeze,  Hez,"  said  Phil, 
"  for  I  agree  with  you  that  your  father  is  hard  to 
beat.  I  '11  tell  you  where  the  resemblance  is  — 
it 's  because  they  are  both  of  them  gentlemen." 


74  FATlIim    AdAlXST    SON. 

1  had  to  arkiiowlcd^'e  tliat  in  this  I'hil  ^vas  riolit. 

( )u  oui'  aii'i\al  at  iS\'\\lieriu\  uc  iouiid  tliat 
wi'athcr-lirati'ii  and  sl(H'[)y-]<i(iivini^'  })hiL'e,  for  a. 
Sdiitlicrn   town   \'L'ry   mncli  cxciti'd. 

At  least  a  (hizcn  incii,  licaded  by  a  liter  and 
druiiiiiiei-,  were  jiaradiny  tlic  streets,  and  all  on 
hoai'd  the  hriy-  wlm  liad  heen  at  Xewherne  before 
said  that  a  wonderful  liveliness  })revaile(h  On 
in(juir\-  we  leai'ned  that  a  reernitinL;'  olliee  for  the 
Confederate  army  had  jnst  1ieen  (i])eni'(h 

"  WHiat  is  iliat  I'ory"  in([nired  one  of  the  men 
on  the  hrii;-:  ••  what  is  the  matter?" 

'^  Mattel'?  Why,  ha\'e  n"t  yon  heard  the  glorious 
news  ?"" 

"No,"  said  the  eaptain,  who  ^^■as  listening; 
"what  is  it?" 

"•  ^^'lly.  Fort  Sumter  has  l)een  l)onil)arded  by  our 
folks,  and  the  fort  and  the  whole  Yankee  army  has 
suri'endert'(l.  There  was  aliont  a  thousand  Yankees 
killed,  I  reekon,  and  not  one  of  our  folks  was  hurt. 
"We  are  going  to  deelare  our  independence,  and 
raise  ;i  eompany  to  light  the  Yankees  if  they  come 
down  this  way." 

"  lias  Ncu'th  Carolina  seceded  yet?  "  asked  Cap- 
tain Zenas,  hi  a  tone  of  alarm,  glancing  from  stem 
to  stern  of  his  brig. 

"No,"  res[»onded  the  man,  "Imt  we  won't  st;uul 
a  Yankee  president:  we'll  go  out  of  the  Union 
first :  we  won't  stand  it  to  be  governed  l)y  Yankees 
and  niggers,  sar." 


AT    NEWBKRXE.  75 

"•These  folks  (tr*'  awful  excited,"  said  Bill ;  '"I 
never  lieerd  one  o"  these  kind  o'  loafers  make  so 
long  a  speech  or  put  so  nnich  shout  in  one  sence 
I  've  sailed  to  a  Southern  ])ort." 

As  we  were  not  posted  in  news  of  the  events 
that  led  up  to  the  attack  and  sul)se(|uent  capture 
of  Sumter,  we  were  greatly  astonished,  and  for  a 
time  could  talk  of  little  else.  The  sentiment  of  the 
crew,  so  far  as  heard,  was  that  of  Union  men :  the 
general  trend  of  which  was  that  the  South  Caroli- 
nians nnist  l:)e  crazy  to  attack  a  national  fort  and 
tear  down  its  ilag.  Thougli  Jack  Tar  is  not 
thought  to  he  verj'  sentimental,  he  regards  the  old 
flag  with  reverence,  as  representing  a  government 
that  is  respected  in  every  port  of  the  world. 

We  l)egan  at  once  discharging  the  remainder  of 
our  cargo,  which  among  other  things  consisted  of 
some  large  cases  or  boxes  which  I  have  elsewhere 
mentioned.  Wliile  being  taken  from  the  hold,  one 
of  these  was  accidentally  broken  open,  and  disclosed 
some  of  its  contents,  which  consisted  of  muskets. 

A  significaiit  look  was  exchanged  among  the 
men,  but  no  remark  was  made  except  by  the  first 
mate,  who  said  with  a  leer,  "  What  a  purty  cargo  ! 
Wonder  what  the  folks  at  home  would  say  ef  they 
knew  it." 

Mr.  Bell  hastily  repaired  the  box,  and  for  the 
first  time  since  we  knew  him  spoke  angrily  to  the 
men  for  their  carelessness. 

Afterw^ards,  wliile  eating  our  supper  in  tlie  fore- 


7r.  FATHER    .[(.AIXST    SOy. 

castle,  one  of  tlie  men  said,  ''  ( )ui'  craft  is  carrying 
anus  f(ir  tliese  secessionists,  an"  I  'm  goin*  to  leave 
her  AA'lien   I   git  home." 

•'  I  don't  cai'e  what  tlie  cargo  is."  said  a  sailor 
\\e  called  ( )ld  UlulT,  while  eritieallv  examining  a 
|)ieee  of  meat  he  ha<l  taken  from  the  mess  hid, 
''hnt  the  gi'iih  is  stiid^iiT.  an"  here  we  are  in  port 
withont  fresh  [)i-o\isions.  I  e"n  stan"  that  slush  pot 
of  a  mate,  l)nt  I  won't  stan"  such  stuff  as  this,""  and 
lUuff  gave  a  soleuni  sniff  of  disdain. 

'Jdie  old  salt  ^\■as  a  chronic  growler,  hut  it  nnist 
lie  confessed  that  the  hiod  was  very  ha(L  Who- 
ever feeds  .lack  Tar  seeuis  to  have  a  genius  for  the 
selection  of  poor  ••  gruh."" 

(Xiieis  of  our  men  gi'owled  ahont  the  lirntality 
of  the  mate,  and  with  all  complaints  eoni]»ined 
thei(.'  was  much  dissatisfaction.  I  thiid'C,  however, 
that  a  kno^\•ledge  of  what  our  cargo  in  part  com- 
prised was  that  over  which  the  men  growled  the 
worst.  I)ill  Tarhox  said,  ''What  "r"  ye  growlin' 
'bont?  Most  o'  y'  w"d  growl  anyway:  y"d  growl 
ef  V*  was  goin"  to  he  hanged,  an"  ef  y"d  nothin"  to 
grnndile  "hout  y'd  gruml)le  "Ijout  that." 

After  discharging  the  cargo  we  began  pntting 
lielow  detdc  a  cargo  of  Southern  products,  consist- 
ing, among  other  things,  of  barrels  of  tar  and  sweet 
potatoes. 

The  tirst  mate  took  it  upon  himself  to  have  the 
small  space  of  the  forecastle  encroached  n[»o)i  by 
pntting   some    of    these    barrels    into    the    narrow 


AT    NI'AVBERXE.  77 

quarters  belonging  to  the  men,  and  these  were 
held  in  place  only  by  ropes  fastened  to  the  sides 
of  the  bunks. 

On  Saturday  afternoon,  when  the  loading  of  the 
brig  was  almost  roni[)lottHl.  I  was  sent  up-town  with 
a  note  fniui  the  captain  to  the  oflice  of  the  firm  to 
which  that  poition  of  the  cargo  landed  at  Newberne 
had  lieen  consigned.  Tlie  captain  said  to  me, 
''  You  can  recci})t  for  anj^thing  they  may  send  to 
the  ship  by  3'ou." 

While  waiting  in  tlie  dingy  outer  office,  to  my 
surprise  ^Ir.  I>ell  came  out  of  an  inner  room  with 
jNIr.  Orton.  The  second  officer,  as  he  saw  me, 
spoke  in  an  undertone  to  the  principal  of  the  firm, 
lie  then  nodded  to  me  pleasantly,  and  after  a  cere- 
monious leave-taking  with  ]\Ir.  Orton,  as  I  tliought 
very  unlike  that  of  a  sailor,  he  went  out.  This 
ceremonious  manner  on  the  part  of  the  second  mate 
was  not  less  observable  than  wais  the  air  of  respect 
and  deference  in  the  manner  of  iMr.  Orton  to  the 
second  officer  of  the  "  Favorite.'' 

1  delivered  the  note  from  the  captain. 

"  Your  captain  should  have  come  to  the  oflice  for 
a  matter  like  this,"  said  Mr.  Orton,  as  I  thought  in 
a  needlessly  sharp  and  irritable  tone.  "  There  are 
important  papers  to  send  on  board,  which  must  be 
receipted  for." 

I  replied  respectfull}^  that  the  captain  had  said  I 
could  receipt  for  anything  that  was  sent  to  him. 

Mr.  Orton  glanced  at  the  captain's  note  again, 


78  FATHER    AGAINST    SON. 

and  said.  "  I  sec,"  and   then,  in  an  al)stracti'd  man- 
ner, dnunnuMl   on   tlic   table   \\-it]i   liis   lini;-ers.  then 
said,   ''Ah'  clerk   is   ont  ;  c;in   v(»n   —  A\'ill  yon  — 
^\•l■ite  a  line  at  my  dictation  '/ '"  aiid  tlicn  very  c(.»nrtc 
onsly  addc*!,  ••  I  nsnally  dii'tate  to  him."" 

I  1)eL;';in  to  write  at  Ids  dictation,  he  constant'ly 
I'ct'cri'inL;-  to  ;i  huiidlc  of  papers  ^\•llich  he  had  taken 
irom  his  s:il'e.  and  tor  \\hich,  in  (h'tail,  I  had  heen 
writing  a  recei[)t.  TakiiiL;'  the  }ia[>er  in  his  hands 
he  glanee(]  it  over,  and  said  in  a  tone  of  snrprisc, 
"•Yon  ^\■l■ile  a  x^^vy  line  hand,  spell  corrt'ctly,  and 
pnnctnate  [)roperly.  —  (pdte  extraordinary  for  a 
yonng  —  man."' 

T  })rided  myself  on  the  neatness,  correctness,  and 
ra}tidity  with  ^\■hich  I  conld  write,  and  A\'as  [)leased 
with  a  coni[)linient  whi(di  I  knew  was  not  unde- 
served. 

"'  IMease  sign  it,""  lie  said,  after  looking  it  over 
the  second  tim(\ 

After  going  over  the  papers  carefully  and  check- 
ing eacli  one  so  as  to  make  sure  that  all  mentioned 
were  there,  T  signed  it,  tied  the  pajjcrs  together, 
and  just  then  the  clerk  (whose  absence  had  annoyed 
Mr.  Orton)  came  in. 

"Your  name  is  Johnstone,""  he  said  [)leasantlv, 
"•  and  T  see  you  spell  it  as  —  as  —  our  Johnstones  do. 

'"  Yes,""  I  respondech  ''  My  father  is  a  North 
Carolinian."' 

'•  Ah.  indeed  ?  ""  he  said  incpiiringly,  and  in  a  tone 
of  surprise. 


.17'    NEWBKRNI':.  79 

"  iNIy  father,"  I  said,  '"is  ]Mr.  Rufn.s  Johnstone, 
Jr.  Do  you  know  the  family  ?  "  Instead  of  answer- 
ing, ]\Ir.  (Jrton  looked  atnie  with  an  air  of  astonish- 
ment. 

"  Uo  yon  mean  to  say,"  said  the  clerk  to  me, 
'•that  your  father  is  the  Rufus  Jolnistone,  Jr.,  of 
Pine  Groye  Hall?" 

'•'  Yes,  sir,"  I  replied  ;  •'  do  you  know  where  he  is  ? 
We  haye  not  heard  from  him  for  quite  a  wliile  ;  he 
has  been  absent  from  home  for  seyeral  montlis,  and 
we  don't  know  what  has  happened  to  him." 

I  noticed  a  look  of  intelligence  pass  between  the 
clerk  and  his  employer  —  a  look  such  as  people 
exchange  when  they  liaye  some  common  thought 
not  conyeyed  to  a  third  party.  Mr.  Orton's  face 
did  not  change,  howeyer,  and  he  presently  said :  "  I 
heard  some  time  ago  that  Rufus  Johnstone,  Jr.,  had 
returned  from  the  North,  but  I  had  not  heard  before 
that  he  had  a  family,  so  naturally  I  am  a  little 
surprised,  —  but  I  know  very  little  of  the  John- 
stones,  except  what  I  've  told  you,  and  that  only 
from  hearsay." 

I  attempted  to  inquire  further,  but  as  the  ques- 
tions I  desired  to  ask  might  imply  distrust  of  my 
father  they  stuck  in  ni}-  throat  unasked,  and  I  took 
my  papers  and  with  a  bow  left  the  office.  I  had 
not,  howeyer,  got  far  when  I  discoyered  that  I  liad 
left  my  penknife  on  the  table  where  I  had  l^een 
writing,  and  returned  to  get  it. 

I  was  at  the  door,  and  before  I  liad  put  my  hand 


80  FATllEn    AilAiyST    SnX. 

t(i  tlu' (ilil-fashioiicd  fastening'  I  lieai'd  a  voice  from 
within  saw  as  if  in  rontiniiation  of  a  ruiivrrsatioii, 
"Is  it  tlic  one  tlial  is  rcportiMl  as  goin^  to  Ijc  niarriLMJ 
to  the (  I  did  not  understand  tlic  lunm-")  L;'irl  ?  "" 

•■  Vcs :  and  wasn't  tliat  one  of  tlu'  Jolnistone 
l)o\-s  ""  —  and  1  did  not  lu'ar  tlie  rrst  of  the  (|Ues- 
tioii.  Tlicn  tile  sanu'  voice,  wliidi  I  t(io]s:  to  l)e 
Mr.  (  )iloii"s,  ^aid.   '•  Tlie  liov  looks  like  the  fanuly." 

All  this  time  I  had  heen  standing  as  if  in  a 
dream,  hut  now,  realizing  that  I  was  doing  a  dis- 
lionorahle  act  in  listcidiig  to  eon\'ersation  not  in- 
tt'uded  h)r  my  cai's,  I  knocked  at  the  door,  and  then 
at  the  I'all,  ••  ( 'ome  in."  \\'ent  in.  made  my  excitses, 
and  re(daime(l  my  knife. 

.\fter  I  got  out  of  the  ollice  I  found  mv  thoughts 
husy  with  the  ]iur[)ort  of  the  eoin'ersation  I  had 
overheard.  It  ptizzled  me.  I)id  it  ha\e  any  refer- 
ence to  me?  I  will  say.  in  justice  to  myself,  that  I 
did  not  for  one  moment  give  to  it  an  inter}>i'etatiou 
which  might  imply  dishonorahle  conduct  on  the 
}iart  of  my  father ;  yet  I  was  not  una^\■are  that  it 
wotdd  hear  sitcli  interpretation.  I  dismissed  from 
my  mind  this  standpoint,  and  at  last  concluded 
that  the  conversation  I  had  heard  could  not  refer 
to  me. 

When  I  had  delivered  the  papers  I  said  to  the 
ca})tain:  "Can  yon  })ay  me  my  wages  and  let  me 
leave  the  ])rig  here?""  For  answer  the  captain 
stared  at  me  a  moment  as  if  he  thottght  I  had  lost 
my  mind,  and  turned  awav  withont  otlier  answer. 


AT    NEWnERNE.  81 

That  night  I  "  turned  in,"'  as  sailors  term  going 
to  Led,  debating  if  I  Avould  not  l)etter  run  away  in 
the  morning  and  go  in  pursuit  of  my  father. 

In  the  mi<lst  of  this  mental  delxxte  I  fell  asleep, 
to  l)e  awakened  hy  the  call,  '^  All-star-how-lines 
alio}'!"'  and  then  I  knew  it  was  my  watch  on  deck. 

When  I  got  there  I  was  not  a  little  astonished  to 
find  that  we  had  hauled  out  into  the  stream,  and 
were  under  full  sail. 


82  FATHER    AGAINST    SON. 


CIIAPTi:i{    VJII. 


A    STOKM    AT    SEA. 


It  M'iis  six  ()\'l()i'k  Avlicii  I  ranie  on  deck  in  the 
iiioniiu^'  \vatcli.  Tlie  \\iii(l.  tlmugli  li^'lit,  was  fair, 
and  we  Avere  already  in  llie  liroad  waters  of  Pandieo 
Sonnd  ]n'adt'(l  for  tlie  oreaii  ])eyond. 

The  eaj)tain  sloo(l  on  tin-  weallici'  ^'angway,  tlio 
mate  on  the  lee  side,  while  the  seeond  mate  stood 
in  })laee  on  tlie  \\eather  side. 

The  niornino-'s  A\'ork  of  A\ashini>-  down,  eoilino- 
ro})es,  and  si-ruldjing'  deeks  hcgan. 

I  now  learned  that  the  l)rig  was  short-handed: 
three  of  the  men  had  rnn  awa}'  at  NeAvherne,  and 
tliong'h  another  had  been  shipped  there  as  an  ordi- 
nary seaman  he  proved  to  he  hnt  little  I)etter  than 
a  green  hand.  lie  liad  been  hnrt  while  at  work 
the  afternoon  befoi'e  we  sailed,  and  a\;is  in  his  l)nnk. 

It  was  said  that  the  eaptain  had  sailed  in  a  hnrry 
for  fear  of  losing  more  men. 

It  Avas  obserA'able  that  tlie  manner  of  the  chief 
mate  ^A•as  more  snl)ducd  than  usnal,  from  AA"hieh  it 
was  inferred  that  the  captain  had  been  reading  him 
a  lesson  in  priA'ate. 

Discontent  ^^■as  seen  in  the  faces  of  the  men, 
and  they  obeyed    orders   in  a  very  surly  manner. 


.1     STORM    AT    SEA.  83 

Not  only  were  tliev  dissatisfied  at  Ll-Iiil;'  sliort- 
liaiided,  but  also  at  the  eiieroaehineiils  on  tlu.nr 
(|uarlers :  and  tluit  tliis  was  a  real  and  not  an 
iniaginaiy  g'l'ievanre  any  one  fannliar  with  tlie 
narrow  foreeastle  (^wliieh  is  the  sailor's  only  home 
on  s!iipl)oard  )  \\\\\  understand. 

Phil,  who  had  been  observant  of  the  mood  the 
men  were  in,  said  to  me,  '•  The  men  don't  like  the 
Avay  things  are  going  on  ;  they  say  we  are  being 
used  like  dogs.  They  don't  blame  the  eap'n  so 
mueh,  but  they  "re  ugly  "bout  the  hazing  they  've 
got  from  the  mate.  If  he  "s  got  whiske}'  on  l>oard 
they  say  it  "11  make  trouble.'' 

Though,  as  it  })roved,  tlie  mate  did  have  li(|Uor 
on  board,  and  indulged  in  it  freely,  trouble,  as  will 
be  seen,  did  not  come  wholly  from  this,  l>ut  from 
another  and  an  unexpeeted  source. 

The  weather  continued  fair,  the  sun  shining  in 
unclouded  splendor  during  tlie  entire  day  ;  but  the 
temper  of  the  men  did  not  accord  with  the  weather. 
They  grumbled  in  dangerous  undertones  unlike 
the  ordinary  sailor  growl,  wliich  is  one  of  hal)it 
rather  than  of  deep-seated  dissatisfaction.  Tlie 
grumbling  was  general  and  indefinite  in  its  char- 
acter; there  was  no  special  grievance.  The  men, 
as  it  were,  egged  one  another  on  in  expressions  of 
discontent. 

"  Tliis  is  purty  grul)  an'  a  purty  craft,  an',  l)last 
my  eyes,  a  purty  lot  o'  stuff  to  come  to  sea  witiil  " 
said    Jim    Conklin,  glancing    at  the    barrels    that 


<S4  FATHER    AC;  A  INST    SON. 

eneuni))crc(l  tlie  fi)i\'rastk',  as  we    sat  around    the 
kid  eatiiiii;'  onr  dinner. 

"AVliat  did  y'  come  to  sea  f  r  ?  '"  said  "  Spouter" 
(so  nicknamed  because  lie  had  keen  a  wlialenian  ). 
'•Wliat  did  y"  slii[)  t'"r  a  sliip's  dog  t'"i'?y"   ain  "t  a. 
man  'lioard  here." 

''  Ik'lay  there,  y"  hikkers  I  "*  said  !>ill,  whoseemed 
to  be  enik'avoriiiL;-  to  tui-]i  tlieir  minds  from  tlieir 
grievances,  and  to  get  them  started  on  some  other 
tack.  '•'■  See  here,  mates,  I  've  seen  wus  men  'an 
ok   Hardin'."" 

"lie's  a  })urty  othcer  fr  a  "/.ample,""  gro^ded 
Conklin. 

'■'•  I  "11  tell  ye.  mates.'"  continued  i>ill,  I'ounding 
liis  shoulders  and  assuming  a  '•yariung"  position, 
""  Har(Un"  k)st  liis  only  son  —  fell  from  the  mast- 
head in  a  gale  ;   as  likely  a  hoy  as  y'  e\  er  see." 

''Took  after  his  dad,  I  s'pose,""  interrupted 
Conklin  sarcastically. 

"As  I  said,"  continued  15111,  scowling  at  tlie  in- 
terruption, "  he  was  lost  off  the  Cape  three  year  ago. 
Hardin'  has  n"t  l)en  himself  sence.  Then,  t'  make 
matters  wus,  he  took  t'  drink.  Y"  see,"'  said 
Bill,  turning  to  me,  "  when  rum  gits  the  least  holt 
'f  a  man,  an"  then  anythin"  runs  athwart  his  hawser 
't  don't  agree  with  him  it  don't  seem  t'  make 
him  better,  as  't  would  a  soljer  Christian,  but  he 
takes  t'  drink  'til  he  's  like  a  craft  with  a  thun- 
derin'  big  deck-load  an'  iiothin'  in  the  hold.  An' 
when  a  man  takes  rum   aboard    t'   drownd  sorrer 


A     STORM    AT    SEA.  85 

I  've  noticed  it  gen'lly  drownds  out  en-erytliing 
else  that 's  good.  I  've  sailed  with  Hardin'  'fore 
the  mast  sev'ral  voyages,  an'  a  l)etter  shipmate  an' 
all  'round  sailor  I  've  seldom  sailed  Avith.  When 
he.  got  to  be  fust  mate,  y'  see,  he  didn't  clind) 
through  th'  cahin  AA'inder  l^ut  got  t'  th'  quarter-deck 
through  th'  fo'cas'le,  an'  by  hard  knocks,  an'  he  was 
a  purty  fair  officer  to  sail  with  till  he  took  t'  rum  — 
for  if  I  lie  a  common  Jack  Tar  that  says  it,  if  y' 
want  fust-class  treatment  y'  must  sail  with  officers 
who  was  somebody  'fore  they  got  to  be  sailors  ; 
men  like  our  second  mate  an'  the  cap'n." 

There  was  a  moment's  silence  as  the  men  ate 
their  dinner,  and  it  was  evident  that  tliis  attempt 
of  Billy  to  get  the  men's  thoughts  on  another 
tack  was  partially  successful,  but  not  wholly  so, 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  se(piel. 

The  weather  continued  fine  all  the  next  day  un- 
til nearly  sundown,  when  it  began  to  blow  from  the 
north-east  a  very  lively  breeze,  kicking  up  a  rough 
sea.  That  night  the  order  came,  "  All  hands  on 
deck  !  "  and  at  eleven  o'clock  it  was,  as  sailors  say, 
"  blowing  great  guns "  from  north-east  to  east- 
north-east. 

It  was  four  o'clock  before  we  got  the  brig  under 
easy  sail,  for  in  addition  to  being  short-handed  the 
deck-load  of  cotton  hindered  us,  and  liesides,  the 
men  did  not  work  at  their  tasks  with  their  usual 
heartiness. 

At  six  o'clock  the  wind  was  screaming,  and  the 


86  i-A'riii:ii   acmnst  son. 

sea  iiMTfasiiiL;',  and  tin' 1ii'i^' was  laLoriiiq'  in  an  ugiy 
and  licavv  cross  sea.  nude]-  rcft'cd  (o[)sails  and  foi'e- 
sail.  In  addition  to  otlirr  discomforts  it  lic^'an  to 
I'ain  :  latci'  it  tnnuMl  to  ^l^ct  and  liail.  tlic  wind 
stcadilv  increasing-  all  the  time.  At  ten  o'clotdv 
ordci's  canK'  to  donMc  I'cct'  tin'  tojisail  and  reef  the 
foresail.  'Idie\-  w ci'e  fi'o/.eii.  and  of  conise  as  reeling- 
can  oid\"  l)e  (h  me  with  l)are  lull  ids  it  was  trying-  M'orlc. 
'I'lie  iVo/.en  can\as  \\as  like  sheet-iron,  and  to  hold 
on  to  the  \-ai-d  was  \-er\'  ditlicnlt  :  l>ut  at  last.  \\\{\\. 
o\'ei'  an  honr"s  work,  we  L;-ot  tlie  I'etd's  in  and  came 
(low  II  on  deed;  once  more. 

Idiat  ni;ght  we  L;'ot  hnt  fonr  lioni-s  below,  and 
"when  \n\  \vatc]i  on  ^\vvV  came  I  found  the  hrig 
lahorin^- liea\'il\' and  ^'oini^-  at  a  tremendous  |)aee, 
lier  eoui-se  partially  in  the  ti'ou^-li  of  the  sea  and 
]»artially  (A'er  tlie  wa\'es.  Such  was  the  situation 
the  uext  niorniuL;',  the  wind  still  increasing', 
>\hen  to  our  astonishment  tlie  mate  ordere<l  the 
reefs   thrown   out  of  the    foi'csaih 

"  We  "ve  g-ot  too  nutch  sail  on  alreaah',"  g-rowled 
Spouter  as  he  sprang-  up  the  rigg-ing  following  the 
second  mate.  I  foHowing-  (dos(dy  after. 

It  was  still  eohh  and  the  sleet  cut  like  neeclles  as 
it  sti'Uck  mv  face,  and  at  times  almost  l)linded  me. 

At  hist  we  had  the  sail  loosened,  and  it  A\'as 
caught  l)v  the  wind  and  Ixdlied  out  hefore  the  ter- 
rilile  gale. 

Wlieii  we  got  on  deck  we  found  the  mate  giving 
other  orders,  whicdito  us  seemed  still  more  wild  and 


A    STORM    AT    SKA.  87 

iiuiisTia].  ITis  face  Avas  inflamed,  his  eyes  distcmled, 
and  in  manner  lie  was  very  nidike  liis  nsnal  self 
(for  with  all  his  sliortcoming's  none  eonld  deny  that 
ordinarily  he  nnderstood  the  duties  of  his  oHic'e). 

The  brig,  in  spite  of  her  heaA'y  cargo,  was  lean- 
ing over  to  the  gale  so  that  her  lee  gunwale  Avas 
partly  under  water.  The  mate  had  called  IVill  to 
the  wheel,  and  that  was  sensible  at  least.  Altliough 
the  weather  was  cold  the  effort  of  steering  the  l^rig 
was  so  great  that  l>ill  was  wet  and  dripping  with 
sweat,  when  hours  after  tliis  he  came  down  from 
his  duties  on  the  quarter-deck. 

''  Keep  her  off  four  points,"'  ordered  the  mate. 

"  Hi  yor,  sir,"  responded  Bill. 

As  she  swung  off,  witli  her  bio-  foresail  l)ellYinar 
out  before  the  gale,  it  seemed  as  if  the  masts  would 
be  taken  out  of  her.  She  stuck  her  nose  into  a 
tremendous  sea,  which  swept  the  deck,  washing  two 
of  our  men  off  tlie  forecastle  hatch,  stove  in  the 
weather  door  of  the  cook's  galley,  and  washed 
"  King  Sambo,"  as  we  called  the  cook  (liis  name 
was  Sam  King),  and  some  of  his  cooking  utensils 
into  the  lee  scuppers. 

Distressing  as  was  the  situation  —  one  which 
ordinarily  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  subject  of 
mirth  —  I  laughed  to  see  Sambo  spouting  water 
from  his  thick  lips,  and  crawling  to  a  dry  place  on  a 
cotton  Ijale,  and  with  an  angry  but  comical  expres- 
sion on  his  face  shake  his  fist  towards  liill,  as  much 
as  to  say,  '•  I  '11  pay  you  for  this."     ^\.nd  to  a  man 


88 


FA  Til  Ell    .  I  ( Li  IX S  7 '    S  OX. 


])vkn\'  the  mast  it  is  no  langliiiig  matter  to  lie  out 
with  tlic  ('(((tk.  I'oi'  ill  sucli  case  lie  will  be  deprived 
of  iiiaiix'  small  faA'ors  (  wliicli  do  not  lorik  small,  how- 
ever, to  a  t"(uvniast  hand),  such  as  the  privilege  of 
diving  his  wet  clotlies  hefore  the  gallev  tire,  or  o-(4- 
ting  a  sl\-  si[>  of  coffee  or  tea,  when  in  the  cold  on 
de.'k. 

To  add  to  our  general  ti'ouhle,  word  came  that 
the  harrels  in  tlie  forecastle  had  lu'okeii  loose,  and 
in  so  doing  t!ie\'  had  fetched  away  the  siiles  oi  tlie 
hunks  to  wliicli  tliey  had  heen  fastened,  and  ha\'ing 
iiotliing  to  l-reeji  thmii  in  place,  tlie  contents  of  the 
hnnks  Were  spilleil  on  the  de(dv. 

T,  ^\•ith  others,  was  sent  to  secure  tlie  harrels, 
when  \Vi'  found  some  of  them  were  smashed,  and  had 
s[)read  their  contents  of  swi'et  }»otatoes,  haeon  sides, 
and  ta.i'  on  every  side:  while  the  unhi'oken.  hari'els 
were  dancing,  chasseeiiig  up  and  down,  hack  and 
forth,  with  hams,  sweet  potatot's,  and  tar[iaidin  hats 
for  partners. 

Aftt'r  Conquering  the  harrids  and  securing  them, 
we  went  once  moi'e  on  de(d<:  to  find  that,  in  ohedi- 
ence  to  an  order  from  the  chief  mate,  we  were 
ahout   to   go  on   the   shore   tack. 

The  hrig  was  meanwhile  going  at  a  tremendous 
pace  ;  her  masts  bendiiig,  her  gura\'ales  half  under 
water,  and  her  how  churning  the  sea.  As  we 
vrent  slo"wlv  around,  the  hrig,  with  seeming  malice, 
stuck  her  nose  under  another  sea,  Avhich  deluged 
the   decks  ;    then   as   she   swung  off   on    the    other 


A     STORM    AT    SEA.  89 

tack  tlio  upper  yards  to  wliicli  sails  liad  just 
been  set  seemed  to  bend  like  l)Ows.  The  eords' 
cracked,  and  then  with  a  report  like  that  of  a  gun 
(heard  above  other  clamorous  sounds  of  the  air 
and  sea)  the  yards  snapped,  and  with  the  sail 
whipped  and  banged  the  foremast  with  angry 
blows. 

The  captain,  half-dressed  (for  he  had  been  on 
deck  nearly  all  the  previous  night,  and  had  been 
sleeping  at  the  time  mentioned),  rushed  on  deck, 
gave  a  sharp  look  aloft  and  over  the  decks,  brushed 
the  mate  aside  with  a  sharp  word  and  manner,  then 
thundered  out  his  orders  in  a  hoarse  l)ut  command- 
ing voice. 

The  mate  went  Itelow ;  the  men  sprung  into  the 
rigging  to  obey  the  orders,  and  the  wreckage  of 
spars  and  sail  was  soon  cleared  aAvay. 

The  sail  was  shortened,  and  though  the  sleet  and 
cold  made  tlie  work  very  difficult  it  was  quicklj^ 
accomplished. 

I  was  very  cold  when  I  got  to  the  deck  once 
more,  and  was  thrashing  my  hands  to  get  up  a  little 
circulation,  when  there  came  an  order  to  go  about 
on  the  other  tack.  The  weather  made  the  atmos- 
phere thick,  notwithstanding  the  gale,  so  that  A\e 
could  see  nothing  plainly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  dis- 
tant. 

Before  the  order  could  be  executed  there  came  a 
shock,  and  then  another.  Our  craft  had  struck 
bottom !     At  first  I  thoup-ht  that   it  was  tlie  sea 


90  FATHER    A(;AIXST    SON. 

LcatiiiL;'  ag'ahist  liiT,  so  stvonc;'  was  tlie  force  of  the 
waxes. 

Tlie  stanch  lii'ig,  however,  went  about  with 
seemingly  no  otlier  niisliap  tliaii  shippiiiga  sea  that 
deluged  the  decks,  hut  in  view  of  a  greater  danger 
we  did  not  mind  that. 

I  had  hcen  (dinging  to  the  rigging  on  the  weather 
side,  almost  holding  my  hreath,  hut  seeing  that  the 
brig  was  seemingly  uninjured  I  hreathed  more 
easily. 

The  i(dief  from  suspense  was  hut  for  a  moment; 
other  dangers  menaced  us.  The  cr}-  went  up, 
"^  We  "\'e   sprung  a   leak!" 

One  can  imagine,  lint  not  realize,  these  awful 
monu'uts  as  the  hrig  drove  forward  amid  the  fury  of 
the  storm,  while  wi'  waited  h)r  —  I  knew  not  what. 

Mr.  Uell  and  Willy  went  helow  to  sear(di  for  the 
leak,  w  hile  the  men  were  sent  to  the  pumps. 

Mr.  liell  Soon  came  on  deck  again,  and  it  was 
noised  annind  that  the  leak  had  not  l)een  found 
on   act'ount  of  the  cargo's  being  in  the  Avav. 

There  Avas  then  two  feet  of  watei'  in  the  liold. 
''Jdiis  was,  however,  thought  to  l)e  in  }tart  due  to 
tlu'  water  from  the  deck.  It  was  for  a  moment 
thonglit  that  the  pumps  were  gaining  on  tlie  water. 
The  spirit  of  discontent,  if  not  of  mutinv,  had  dis- 
ap})eared  Ijefore  a  common  danger,  and  the  men 
worked  with  a-  will.  The  lirst  officer,  however, 
was  still  stillen. 

Meanwhile  the  brio-  drove  forward  in  the  howl- 


A     STORM    AT    SEA.  Dl 

ing  gale,  while  the  men,  occasionally  assisted  by 
the  steward  and  the  cook,  labored  at  the  throhl)ing 
pumps. 

All  tlie  sail  on  the  "  Favorite  "  at  that  time  was 
the  reefed  main  topsail,  and  this  was  enough.  The 
second  mate,  the  cook,  the  steward,  and  even  lUar- 
ney,  the  injured  man,  were  laboring  at  the  pumps 
with  desperate  enei'gy.  But  it  was  useless  to 
deceive  ourselves  longer;  the  brig  was  steadily 
sinking.  Phil,  Sambo,  Blarney,  and  I  relieved  the 
men  at  the  pumps,  while  they  threw  over  the  deck 
load.  Wliile  this  somewhat  lightened  the  brio- 
the  water  still  gained  on  the  pumps. 

A  cloud  rested  on  the  captain's  usually  placid 
face,  for  he  saw  that  unless  something  unusual  hap)- 
pened  the  "  Favorite  "  was  doomed. 

The  brig  was  hove  to,  the  long-boat  carefully 
launched,  and  men  stationed  with  boat-hooks  to 
keep  her  from  being  stove  to  pieces  against  the  side 
of  the  brig.  But  the  men  treacherously  abandoned 
their  posts  of  duty  and  piled  into  the  boat.  In  an 
instant  retribution  followed  ;  tlie  boat  was  broken 
and  crushed  like  an  egg-shell  by  l)eing  dashed 
against  the  brio'. 

I  saw  for  an  instant  the  despairing  faces  of  the 
wretches  as  they  drowned  alongside. 

There  were  now  on  board  only  the  captain,  the 
two  mates,  Tarbox,  Blarney,  Phil,  and  myself. 

"Cast  off  the  boat  from  the  stern  davits,"  ordered 
the  captain ;  "  stand   by  there  and   put  him  (indi- 


92  FATiiEii   A<;.[ixs'r  son. 

catiiiL;'  T)lanle^")  in  lirst.'"  Tn  jinotluT  instant  the 
l)oat  was  swept  away  :  \u\\y  it  occnri-r(l  I  did  iLot 
know,  Init  \\'as  told  tliat  the  [)aintcr  liad  parted. 

TIh'Ii  rame  tlic  ei'\'  llial  tlie  lii'iL;'  was  lillini;':  ;it 
the  same  time  the  main  derh  was  ]e\el  witli  the 
watci',   and   was  swe[»t    l)y   tlie   -waxes. 

The  l»riL;'  was  put  alxtut  andlieaih'd  for  tlie  shore 
as  a  last  (U's[i('rat('  resort. 

To  the  landsman  the  land  seems  to  he  tlie  only 
place  of  safety,  not  so  to  ihe  seaman:  to  heaeh  a 
ship  on  a  sni'f-heaten  slioi-e  is  the  last  res(ii't. 

The  hi'ii;'  sank  lowi'r  and  lowta'  as  she  ploughed 
madly  tln'ou^h  (he  waves  that  threatened  to  en^adt 
her.  It  st'emed  a  mii'aide  Ihat  we  wei'e  not  swe[)t 
from  the  de(d<:,  or  that  the  hri^'  did  not  siid<. 

Another  sound  now  hleiided  with  the  shriek  of 
the  winds,  the  ereakinL;'  of  the  eorday'e  and  spars, 
and  the  hissing  of  the  water;  it  was  the  sound  of 
the  surf  heatiuy  the  shore  like  a  eontinuous  can- 
nonade. A  Ioul;'  line  of  A\'hite  and  mountainous 
l)reakers  foaming'  in  si'eniiii^-  ani^'er  was  in  si^lit. 
"Jdie  hri^'  plunge*!  forward  in  the  increasing  si'as 
that  indicated  shoalinu'    water. 


THE     WRECK    OF    THE    ••FAVORITE.'"       OC 


CHAPTER     IX. 

THE    WItECK    OF    THE    ''FAVORITE." 

Ltke  some  mad  creature  the  "  Favorite  "  plunged 
forward,  her  how  now  lifted  on  Mie  top  of  the 
waves  and  now  pitched  down  into  the  trongh  of 
tlieni.  We  neared  a  shore,  sea-heaten  and  seem- 
ingly Avithout  hidentations,  when  there  was  a 
shout  from  the  lookout.  In  the  coast  that  seemed 
at  first  to  he  hut  one  stretch  of  sand-har  right  and 
left,  there  was  an  opening  or  inlet,  and  if  Ave  could 
hut  reach  this,  if  the  hrig  could  not  he  saved,  we 
at  least  could  l)each  her  in  comparatively  calm 
water. 

But  alas  for  our  hopes !  The  hrig  would  not 
answer  to  the  helm.  The  joyous  shout  of  antici- 
pated safety  had  hardly  left  our  throats  when, 
witli  a  shock  that  is  iijdescrihahle,  tlie  '•'  Favoi- 
ite '■  struck  hottom  ;  then  again  and  again,  with 
awful  concussion,  making  the  declvs  under  our 
feet  strain,  creak,  and  groan,  and  with  a  harsh 
grating  and  p(junding  sound  she  was  heaclied 
within  three  hundred  feet  of  the  surf-beaten  shore. 
The  hrig,  with  perhaps  all  on  board,  was  doomed  to 
destruction  ! 

How   shall    I    describe    that   scene,    as   she    lay 


94  FATHER    AdAINST    S<)X. 

stranded  ainid  that  tiuunlt  of  slirii-kiii^-  winds  and 
I'oaring  waves'/  One  wlio  lias  seen  the  sea  only 
in  its  fair  weather  and  sunshine  moods  ean  know 
little  of   its  wild  furv  in  a  slorin. 

As  the  sea  struek  oui'  doomed  eral't  with  terrible 
Mows,  like  those  of  ^'i^antie  hanimei's  \\-ielded  l)v 
the  demons  of  the  sea  and  wind,  it  eansed  her  to 
iL;roan  like  some  li\'in;^-  ei'eature  aware  of  its  dan- 
yei-  and    learful   of  its   doom. 

The  shoi-e  was  not  hir  distant:  l)Ut  the  wild  and 
dangerons  breakers,  like  a  seethinn'  caldron,  inter- 
vened, d'he  chief  mate,  in  a  wild  manner,  and 
with  a  wildei'  look  on  his  hice.  I'.vclaimed,  "' l^verv 
man  h)r  himself  I  "* 

"•No,  Ml'.  Hardin^-,'"  said  the  caj)tain  in  re^tly, 
'■'we  have  a  dutv  to  perform,  1>oth  for  onrseh'es 
and   the  ship-owners.'" 

TJie  mate,  at  this  re})roof,  sluidv  away  as  a  dog 
does  Avhen  menaced  hy  its  master. 

The  brig",  Avhich  at  iii'st  was  head  on.  liad,  by 
tfie  combined  action  of  the  tide  and  the  thunder- 
ous sea,  turned  so  that  ker  l)road^ide  was  nearly 
parallel  with  the  1)each.  and  then  heeled  over  to- 
wards tlie  land,  farther  and  farther  with  every 
l)eat  of  the  waves,  nntil  the  decks  were  very  steep. 

""Cut  away  the  masts,"  slionted  the  captain. 

In  anticipation  of  this  order,  the  second  mate 
had  ah'ead}'  stationed  two  of  us  at  the  masts  with 
axes.  In  a  few  moments  the  stays  and  lower  rig- 
ging were  cut,   the  masts  fell   with    a   crash  over 


THE     WRECK    OF    THE    "FAVORITE:'       9& 

tlie  side  of  the  brig,  ami  the  wreck  of  them  was 
cleared  away. 

The  craft  now  righted,  and,  thongh  she  did  not 
keep  on  level  keel,  was  in  a  much  less  dangerons 
position  than  before.  Meanwhile,  such  was  the 
fury  of  the  sea  that  it  did  not  seem  that  she  could 
hold  together  for  many  niinutes.  IJnt  slie  was 
stanchly  built  and  thougli  she  trembled,  groaned, 
and  shrieked  at  every  thunderous  wave,  as  if  in  dis- 
tress, she  showed  no  signs  of  immediate  breaking  up. 

"  Who  of  you  men  will  try  to  reach  the  shore 
with  a  line?"  cried  the  captain.  "It's  our  only 
chance  of  rescue." 

"•  I  can  swim,  sir  ;  I  will  try,"  I  said. 

"But  I  am  the  strongest  swimmer,"  said  Phil ; 
"  besides,  Hez's  mother  would  n't  like  to  have  him 
drowned." 

"  It 's  a  man's  work,  captain,  not  a  boy's,"  said  ^Ir. 
Bell,  pushing  us  rather  roughly  aside.  The  cap- 
tain nodded  assent,  and  Mr.  Bell  tied  around  his 
waist  the  deep  sea  line  in  such  a  manner  that  it 
could  easily  be  detached,  and  sprung  far  out  into 
the  sea. 

We  watched  him  as  he  came  to  the  surface  and 
struck  out  for  the  shore.  The  line  was  paid  out  as 
the  l)old  swimmer  rose  and  sank  with  each  sweep 
of  the  waves. 

"  The  nip  is  coming,"  said  Phil  (who  was  a  mag- 
nificent swimmer)  anxiously, ''  when  he  reaches  the 
breakers  ;  if  he  don't  understand  them,  he  will  fail 


90  FATHER    A(;AIXST    SOX. 

and  liavc  to  coiiic  l)ack,  or  will'"  —  and  licit'  Pliil 
k'I't  Ills  conidnsioii  umitttTcd,  for  tlie  stout  swiiu- 
nier   liad  rcacluMl   the  surf. 

\Vr  saw  tilt'  L;allant  sailor  once  aftrr  lie  ivaclied 
tin.'  hrcakci's,  tlicii  we  lost  si^'lit  of  liiin.  and  aft^'r  a. 
inoineiit  the  line  loosened  and  \Aas  pulled  Itaek  into 
th.'  In'i-'. 

What  liad  In^conie  of    Mr.   Hell  ? 

It  was.  !io\\-e\'er.  not  the  time  for  question  hut 
for  action. 

l')oth  Phil  and  I  now  aL;'ain  volunteered  to  make 
the  attempt.  We  had  had  expci'ienre  in  s\\  imming 
in  rough  water  and  in  the  surf  off  IJiverniouth.  and 
1)o\s  ai'e  often  hettei'  s\\  imniei's  than  men  heeause 
of  i)raetiee  and  agility. 

It  was  deeiiledthat  Phil,  who  said  he  had  a  triek 
of  liis  own.  should  make  the  trial.  After  stripping 
to  his  undershirt  and  trousers  he  hung  the  small 
foi'eeastle  lam})  Idled  with  whale  oil  ainutnd  him. 
He  had  })un(died  in  the  tin  lam[»  a  small  hole 
through  wdii(di  the  oil  might  eonstantly  ooze.  Tlie 
oil  he  said  would  keep  the  seas  from  hreaking  in 
his    hiee   and   de})ri\ing  him   of  his   hreath. 

••  ( ^ood-l)^■.  llez,"  said  the  hi'ave  fellow.  '•  (iood- 
hv.  "  I  said,  shaking  his  hand,  and  then  he  elindx'd 
out  on  the  jih-hoom,  and  threw  himself  into  the 
sea. 

He  came  to  tlie  stirfaee,  rose  and  fell  on  the  seas 
like  a  sea-foAvl,  and  swam  with  a  strong  strolie  for 
the    shore.     We   watehed    him   lireatlilessly  as    he 


THE     ]]'JU:('K    OF    THE    -  FA  I'lJlUTE."'       'Jl 

reaclied  the  breakers,  and  then  after  a  l)rief  strug- 
gle got  to  Ids  feet  and  went  U[)  the  heaeh. 

A  ehecr  weld  u[)  from  the  hrig  when  it  was 
known  that  Phil  had  suei'eeded  in  reaehing  the 
shore,  and  that  eorunmnieatiou  with  the  land  Avas 
estahlished. 

Phil  began  to  pnll  in  the  small  line,  to  whieh  was 
attached  a  strong  cable,  but  he  pulled  very  slowly, 
as  if  he  were  nu\eh  exhausted  witli  the  effort  he 
had  made  in  swi-nming. 

After  a  few  moments,  however,  he  begau  to  pull 
more  vigorously,  until  one  end  of  the  cable  was, 
after  some  delay,  landed  ou  the  beach. 

'■'•  How  will  he  fasteu  the  cable  ?  "  was  a  query 
which  continually  occurred  to  me,  and  this  proved 
to  be  the  part  most  difficult  to  be  achieved,  for  the 
land  was  a  sand}-  beach  and  no  trees  wei'e  near 
to  which  it  could  l)e  secured.  We  sa^v  from 
the  sliore  that  he  could  not  do  this  in  any  case 
without  help.  The  brig  was  meanwliile  strained  by 
the  sea,  that  continued  to  pound  and  wrench  her, 
and  there  was  danger  that  she  might  possibly  break 
up  before  the  cable  was  fastened.  The  captain 
looked  at  me  and  I  thought  I  read  his  wishes. 

As  there  was  the  cable  with  Phil  at  the  other  end 
to  cling  to  in  an  emergency,  there  was  but  little 
danger  in  my  making  the  attempt  to  reach  the 
shore. 

Our  ]:)eril,  meauAvdnle,  was  growing  greater  and 
greater.     Every  sea  swept  our  decks   with  terrible 


1»S  /'.I  77//-;/,'     .I^M/.VN7'    ,SV>.V. 

t'ui'\',  or  laslicd  tin-  wi'cck  with  a  lorec  that  en- 
\('l()]i('(l  it  ill  t^iaiii.  WliatcviT  was  diniv  must  he 
(h>iit'  at  I iiicc. 

1  tlircw  (iff  ill V  (Miat  ami  hrx its.  ainh  hiuiichimn'  my- 
self tar  out  I'roiii  the  hii^'.  sti'Uck  out  lor  the  shoi'e, 
liul  as  I'liil  had  said."  the  ]ii|i  caiiic  ""  whrii  !  ri'ached 
the  hrrakcrs.  Ili'lorc  I  rcachc(l  them,  however,  I 
saw  a  jiicre  of  the  iiiaiu-to[»mast  floatiiiL;'  near  me, 
and  to  this  I  cIuiil;'  in  order  to  n'et  myself  rested 
foi-  m\"  greater  trial  of  strength  \\'liieh  was  \-e1  to 
come.  And  then  it  oeeiirred  to  me  that  if  I  could 
liiit  L;'et  this  spar  on  shore  it  would  prove  iisefuL  So 
thiiil<iiiL;-.  I  struck  out  vi^'oroush' loi' the  ealile,  tow- 
ing' the  piece  of  main-top)mast  \>\  a  rope  which  I 
had  hiund  atlache(l  to  it. 

IJeachiiiL;-  the  cahle,  whicli  was  hut  a  short  dis- 
tance from  me.  I  swam  easily,  keeping'  one  liand 
on  the  to}imast  and  using  tlu'  other  to  swim  Avitli, 
until  1  reaclnMJ  the  Ineakeis,  -which  were  furiously 
eliasing  each  other  like  wild  sea  horses  with  wliite 
manes,  and  I'oaring  with  savage  fury.  I  liad  never 
swum  in  siicli  rough  \\ater  hefore,  and  ]  confess  my 
heart  sank  as  I  neare(l  the  shore. 

It  was  W(dl  that  I  had  saved  my  strength,  for  the 
surf  was  terril)le,  and  it  was  hu'tunate  that  there 
was  hut  a  slight  undertow.  The  first  I  undei-stood 
sometliing-  of  from  former  experiences  while  swim- 
ming at  Rivermoutli. 

^\t  last,  after  two  waves  in  succession  had  iiurled 
me  back  and  forth  to  and  from  the  shore,  I  grasped 


•  ■■■^ 


■'  ■  ^ 


\- 


•1^ 


X  i 


.      THE     ]VRE('K    OF    171 E    -  FAVOIinEy       99 

tlie  rope  attached  to  the  piece  of  inaiu-t<»piiKist  l)v 
one  hand  and  tlie  cal)le  for  snpport  Avith  the  other, 
and  got  to  my  feet:  l)nt  only  to  lie  swept  away 
again  hy  the  receding  ^vaves.  1  tried  once  more 
with  the  same  result,  then  made  a  still  weaker 
effort  and  failed. 

I  now  caught  my  lu'eath.  summoned  all  my 
strength  of  will,  set  my  teeth,  and  made  a  supreme 
effort,  for  I  realized  that  my  life  depended  on  tlie 
issue.  The  sands  gave  way  beneath  my  feet,  and 
a  wave  came  \\\i\\  a  torrentdike  force  as  if  with 
malice,  and  engulfed  me.  I  was  gasping  for  breath 
and  sli|)ping  away  when  Phil  caught  me,  at  the 
same  time  exclaiming,  "•  Let  go  that  rope,  Hez  !  " 
and  dragged  me  to  the  beach. 

I  lay  for  a  moment  getting  my  breath,  when  Phil 
said,  "  What  made  you  hold  on  to  that  spar  S(_i  like 
time,  Hez  ?  " 

"  Something  to  lash  the  cable  to,  Phil,"  I  said, 
gasping. 

'•*  It 's  just  the  thing,"  said  Phil,  "•  but  was  n't  it 
just  like  you  to  think  of  it?" 

Then  he  gave  a  look,  and  seeing  that  the  topmast 
had  gone  adrift  and  was  tossing  amid  the  breakers, 
he  watched  his  chance  until  it  was  thrown  near 
him,  then  rushed  into  the  water  and  dragged  it  to 
the    shore. 

In  a  short  time  Ave  had  dug  with  our  hands  a 
deep  hole  and  had  fastened  the  spar  into  the  sand, 
but  not  very  securely,  and  braced  it  by  holding  on 


1 00 


FA  Tin: J!  Af.A/xsr  snx. 


lo  the  i-opf  wliicli  T  lia\('  iiu'iuioiu'd  as  lieiiig 
attaelied  to  it.  '•  It  woift  liold  \ei'v  loiii;'."  I  said 
to  Pliil,  "liut  |»fi'liaps  it  will  liold  until  sonie  one 
can  eoine  to  make  it  more  seeni'e."  This  d(.)ne.  we 
signaled  to  the  hriy  that  the  eahle  A\'as  reail}'.  hut 
at  hrst  eould  y'et  no  ansM'er.  V\\'  coidd  see,  how- 
ever, some   unusual   conunotiou   on   Iioard. 

.Vt  last  our  si^-nal,  after  l)einy  eonstantlv  repeated, 
was  answei'eil.  and  we  [)i'reeived  that  those  on  the 
hi'iL;'  were  I'i^'Lj'inL;'  what  is  known  anioUL;'  seamen  as  a 
cradle  (a  soi't  of  l)oats\\  ain"s  cliaii' )  foi'  tlu'  [)ur[>ose 
of  coniinn'  ""  !^1""''N  <ii'  l""i'  hrinL;iny  anything  they 
eould  L;'et  for  oui'  neecls. 

In  a  few  monuMits  15111  I'arhox  came  ashore  hy 
jueans  of  the  eahle  and  cradle,  while  we  held  to  the 
o-uy-ro[)e  with  all  our  strength,  and  we  then  learned 
that  an  a\^■ful  tragedy  had  taken  [ilaci^  on  the  hrig. 
(  liill  could  not  swim  and  was  nearly  drowned  com- 
ing through  the  hreakers,  as  the  eahle  was  not  verj- 
tight.) 

Mr.  Harding  had  gone  crazy,  "'lie  had,"  said 
I)ill,  '"Ix'en  actiu"  (jUeer  t""r  some  time  "fore  and 
after  vou  come  ashore,  lint  when  he  run  at  me  an' 
the  ca[»"n  ^^■itll  an  axe  he'd  picked  u|i  on  deck  we 
kno\\'e(l  he  was  mad  "s  a  March  liare.  We  had  some 
tronhle  "n  keepin'  out  "f  his  -way,  'til  he  gives  a 
yell,  then  throwi'(l  the  axe  at  Cap'n  Zenas,  an'  with 
another  yell  juin[)ed  into  the  water.'' 

"  Was  the  captain  hurt?"  I  inquired. 

''  Wal,"  said  Bill,   ''  the  axe  struck  th"   cap'n's 


Tin-:     WRECK    OF    THE    -  FAVORITE:'    101 

leg;  lie  limps,  l)ut  says  the  hurt  is  o'  no  conse- 
quence ;  "t  tir  same  time  I  don't  like  the  looks  'f 
his  face." 

I)ill  had  l)rouglit  witli  him  the  end  of  a  rope 
one  end  of  which  was  connected  Avith  the  shi[). 
He  at  once  began  to  set  the  spar  more  securely 
into  the  ground,  and  l)race  it  with  rope  to  pieces 
of  driftwood  driven  int()  tlie  sand  higher  up  on  the 
beach. 

''  The  cap'n  wants  to  knoM',"'  said  Bill,  '•'  if  there's 
any  inhabitants  near  here  th't  we  can  git  t'  help 
us.  Whilst  we  're  tixin'  this,  s'posin'  you  run  up  on 
the  high  land  yender  'n'  see  hoAv  things  look, 
Johnstone." 

When  I  had  reached  the  highest  elevation  near 
the  shore,  T  saw  two  inlets,  one  south,  the  other 
north  of  us,  not,  as  I  then  judged,  very  broad, 
while  west  of  us  there  wei'C  sand  hills  with  a  few 
straggling  trees,  and  beyond  them  I  could  catch 
glimpses  of  water. 

When  I  reached  the  shore  again  Bill  and  Phil 
had  completed  tlie  work  of  fixing  the  spar  and  the 
cable.  I  told  them  that  so  far  as  I  coidd  see  ^YQ 
were  on  an  island,  and  that  I  could  see  no  indica- 
tions of  its  being  inhabited ;  in  fact,  the  general 
appearance  would  show  that  there  were  few  induce- 
ments for  any  one  to  live  there,  as  the  land  was 
mostly  beach  sand. 

"  Wal,"  said  Bill,  "  that 's  what  the  cap'n 
thought,  that  we  was  on  a  part  of  Hat'ras  an'  that 


10-2  FAT  HER    AdAINSr    SON. 

this  's  (lilt'  ()*  the  islands  made  l)v  tli'  Avater  In'eaki'.i' 
tlii'ou^'h  tir  heacli.  'Flic  old  man's  j)lan  imw  is  to 
;j;-it  on  sliori'  sncli  stuff  "s  we  '\\a;it  t"  make  us 
conif"!*!)!".  an"  then  "f  she  holds  t'^'t'ther  sa\-e  the 
cari^o  if  wf  can.  I  "m  ^oin"  hack  t"  the  la'iu;'  to 
iiclji  th'old  mall."  And  the  faithful  sailor  went 
hack  to  tlic  shiji,  sa\inn'.  "The  ^)\^\\x  "s  |)urt\'  hadh' 
I'acdvcd,  an"  I  shaiTt  sta\"  no  lou^'er  'n  t'  git  some 
stuff  f"r  kee})in"  life  t'^'ethcr  till  we  e"n  git  help 
i'r"m    the   mainland."" 

l-"aithful  to  that  |ironiisc  thc\-  had  hegun  to  send 
hack  the  cradle  to  the  shoi'e.  It  \\as  hut  half  \\'av, 
when  tiic  cahje  jiailcd  oi'  slipjx'd  fi'diii  the  windlass 
(just  how  we  did  not  know  )  sewring  all  eonneetion 
with  the  hrig. 

We  could  see  all  this  time  liurrv  and  eonuuotion 
on  l)oaiil.  and  the  sea  l»ieaking' over  the  doomed  eraft 
^vith  increasing  fui y.  Though  the  wind  luid  gone 
down,  the  sea.  as  is  often  the  ease  after  a  storm, 
had  increased  rather  than  decreased  in  violence. 

••  Si'c  that,"'  said  Phil,  ''  the  Inig  ean't  stand  that 
long !  " 

A  sueeession  of  seas  more  terrihle  than  any  we 
had  witnessed  hroke  over  the  Ijrig,  for  an  instant 
shutting  her  from  our  sight. 

••  See  :  "  said  Phil  excitedly.  ^'  See  !  the  ''  Favor- 
ite "  is  l)roken  in  two." 

The  captain,  as  near  as  we  could  see,  was  on  the 
(piarter-deck  when  this  occurred,  while  Bill  was  at 
the  bow. 


THE     WRECK    OF    THE    "FAVORITE:'    103 

We  saw  I>ill  trvino-  to  throw  a  rope  to  the 
captain,  l)ut  he  stood  like  a  statue  near  the  wheel, 
without  seeming  to  notice  the  faithful  sailor. 

In  a  few  moments  a  smother  of  foam  covered  the 
severed  portions  of  the  hrig.  We  could  see  no  one 
on  the  wreck.  We  had  seen  the  last,  not  only  of  the 
'■'■Favorite,"  Init  of  its  captain  and  the  hrave  sailor. 

It  was  quite  dark  when  this  occurred,  partly 
because  of  a  cloudy  sky,  though  it  did  not  rain, 
and  partly  liecause  of  the  a]^)proach  of  night.  We 
strained  our  eyes  for  some  time  in  endeavoring  to 
see  the  wreck,  and  ran  along  the  coast  in  the  hope 
that  one  or  both  of  tlie  men  miglit  have  reached 
the  shore,  but  it  was  so  dark  that  our  endeavors 
were  useless. 

"•  It 's  no  use,"  said  Phil,  •'  I  've  heard  Billy  say 
a  good  many  times  that  he  couldn't  swim;  an'  as 
for  the  cap'n,  I  think  he  didn't  care  much  after 
the  brig  was  wrecked." 

We  had  no  time  for  grief,  and  at  such  times 
people  do  not  mourn ;  that  comes  with  freedom  from 
distress  and  with  reflection. 

Phil  and  I  munclied  some  wet  hardtack  we  had 
in  our  pockets  (for  until  then  we  had  been  too  busy 
to  think  much  of  hunge]'),  and  then  as  we  could 
not  do  anything  more  we  lay  down  and  slept  as 
only  tired  boys  can. 


104  FAIiniR    AiiAlNST    SON. 


rWW'YVM     X. 
ox   A   ];Ai;r;i:N   sand-p.ai;. 

WnKN  I  awiiki'  ill  till'  iiinniiiiL;'  mv  sleep  had 
Itceii  so  pi-dloiiiid  lliat  at  lirst  I  did  Hot  reeoo-nize 
my  siirr(iiiiidiiiL;'s.  nor  iviiiciiilx'r  tlie  oceurrenees  of 
the  ]»rc\  ions  day.  I')Ut  as  I  lirard  the  droning  of 
tlic  sea.  it  caiiic  l>aek  to  me  like  some  terrible 
dream. 

I'hil  was  not  in  his  place  hy  inv  side,  hut  on 
gclliiiL;'  lip  I  saw  liiiii  standiiin'  on  a  sand  liill  near 
by.  taking  an  ol)Sfrvation  of  the  snri'ounding 
country. 

The  wind  had  gone  down,  the  storm  A\as  over, 
and  the  sun  \\as  shining  lirightlv.  I  looked  sea- 
ward, but  could  see  no  trace  of  the  ••  Favoiite," 
and  coiududcd  that  she  had  gone  to  pieces  during 
the  night,  and  drifted  seaward  with  the  turn  ()f  the 
tide. 

Seeing  me  awake,  Phil  came  running  toward  me, 
extdaimiug,  "See  here,  Ilez,  this  is  just  your  style 
of  an  island;  now  you  have  got  it,  Avhat  are  you 
going  to  do  with  it '/ "" 

Then  1  remembered  the  way  Phil  and  I,  while 
lying  in  our  cond'ortable  l)ed  at  liome,  used  to 
imagine  ourselves  east  away  on  a  desolate  island; 


ON    A    BARREN    SAND-BAR.  105 

• 

but  I  felt  too  serious  to  auswer  to  liini  in  the  same 
jocular  vein,  and  replied  : 

"You  may  see  some  fun  in  this,  Phil,  but  I 
confess  I  can't.  All  our  shipmates  are  drowned, 
and  here  we  are  in  this  terriljle  place  with  scarcel_y 
enoug'h  clothes  to  cover  us.  There  seems  nothing 
to  do  l)ut  to  di'own  ourselves." 

''Now,  don't  growl  in  that  style,  Ilez,"  said 
Phil,  putting  his  arm  over  my  shoulder.  '•  You 
know  I  always  said  there  was  no  fun  in  this  kind 
of  an  island,  but  you  always  would  have  your  own 
way,  and  now  you  've  got  your  desolate  island  I  " 

The  tone  in  which  Pldl  said  this  was  so  ludi- 
crous that,  in  spite  of  the  seriousness  of  our  situa- 
tion I  had  to  laugh,  and  say,  "  Sure  enough,  Phil, 
what  can  we  do  with  it?" 

"  Tliat  's  what  I  wanted  to  hear,  Hez,"  said  Pldl. 
"  I  learned  when  I  was  knockiuQ-  around  in  Xew 
York  that  it  was  no  use  for  a  chap  to  put  on  a  long 
face  in  a  hard  pinch,  for  it  only  made  matters  worse 
and  harder  to  bear ;  I  was  trying  to  get  your 
courage  up.  You  've  got  grit  enough,  —  more  than 
I  ever  had,  —  but  I  shan't  have  any  if  you  keep 
on  looking  as  you  did  a  few  minutes  ago.  I  was 
trying  to  keep  up  my  own  courage  ;  you  know  it 
has  run  down  pretty  low  after  looking  around  in 
this  desolate  place  for  something  to  eat,  and  seeing 
nothing  but  sand." 

"Well,  Phil,"  I  said,  "you  are  right,  there  is 
no  use  getting  down  in    the  mouth.     Let 's  look 


1  !J0  /■'.  1  77//:  A'     .  I  ^'.1 IXST    SOX. 

9 

iiroiind  ;ui(l  sec  wlial  kind  df  a  country  it  is  l)eforo 
\vt'  cnijcliidt'  tilings  arc  liopclcss.  Yoii  rcnicuil)cr 
father  used  to  say:  'A  1»i'avc  man  never  eives 
u|)  until  e\erytliiiiL;-  is  tried,  and  tlieii  lie  kee^is 
(in   ti-yiiiL;."  "" 

'•d'liat"s  it.  lie/..""  said  Phil,  with  one  of  liis 
suiin\-  smiles,  ••and  let  "s  try  for  sonit.'  breakfast 
hrst.  1  "n:  hun^i'y  !  Pilly  said  that  hi'  t]ionL;'ht 
this  was  llatteras  lieaeh:  if  that  is  so,  Paudieo 
Sound  is  on  the  othei' side,  not  a  half-mile  to  the 
west  of  us.  I  eoidd  see  water  frtuii  tht.'  lo[)  of  that 
sand-liill.  Let 's  ljo  o\-er  and  see  what  we  ean  iind  ; 
there  must  he  clams  and  oysters,  for  the  water  is 
prelt \   smooth  tliei'c." 

This  IieiiiL;'  aL;reed  upon,  we  tii^htened  our  lielts 
for  lireakfast.  and  set  out  for  exploration  westward. 

Let  the  ri'ader  imagine,  if  he  can,  our  de[)lorahle 
condition.  A\'c  had  on  no  coats,  hats,  slujcs,  or 
stocd^in^s  :  nothini;-  hut  thin  trousers  and  under- 
shirts to  co\er  our  nakedness  ;  and  this  clothing' 
Avas   still    damp   with  sea   water. 

.Vs  wi'  toiled  through  the  sand  and  over  the  hil- 
locd^s  \\-e  cotild  catcli  occasional  glimpses  of  the 
water  to  the  westward,  and  see  the  kind  of  land  on 
which  we  had  heeii  wrecked  by  the  treacherous  sea. 

On  our  left,  with  the  exception  of  onr  island,  as  far 
as  the  eye  could  see  the  beacli  extended  seemingly 
without  a  break.  Here  and  there  were  sand  hillocks 
formed  by  the  drifting  of  the  sand  before  furious 
A\inds  ;  on  these  were  a  few  clumps  of  scrul>oaks, 


ON   A    BARREX    SAMJ-BAR.  1U7 

while  on  tlie  lower  levels  the  patches  of  lowland 
were  covered  by  coarse  marsh  grass.  The  rest 
was  sand,  glaring  in  the  sun,  drifted  l)y  the  \\\\\{\ 
or  wet  by  the  sea;  except  ourselves  there  was 
nothing  that  indicated  human  life. 

As  we  approached  the  western  shore  of  this  ocean 
barrier  we  saw  an  inland  sea,  extending  north  and 
south  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  Looking  west- 
ward we  could  see  land  like  a  blue  cloud  lying 
twenty  miles   or  more  aAV'ay. 

As  we  approached  the  sliore  a  flock  of  ducks, 
with  a  sound  like  rushing  wind,  rose  in  the  air  and 
for  an  instant  darkened  the  sky. 

''There  's  enough  to  eat  if  we  only  had  a  gun,'' 
said  Phil,  looking  hungrily  toward  them. 

"  Yes,"  I  replied  harshly,  '•  and  there,  forty  miles 
away,  is  a  settled  country  that  we  might  reach  /f  we 
only  had  a  boat.  If  we  had  a  gun,  we  've  got  neither 
a  fire  nor  means  of  preparing  a  duck  if  we  shot 
one." 

"  Don't  be  cross,"  said  the  dear  fellow.  ''  I  'm 
so  hungry  I  really  believe  I  could  eat  one  without 
cooking  ;  but  we  won't  scold  al)out  the  cooking  till 
we  get  the  duck  ;  "  and  Phil  made  up  such  a  face 
that  I  laughed,  as  he  no  doubt  intended  that  I 
should. 

The  tide  was  partially  out  when  we  reached  the 
shore.  I  turned  up  my  trousers  and  waded  into  the 
shallow  water,  while  Phil  walked  and  stamped  on 
the  sand  where  the  tide  had  receded,  looking  for 


108  FATHER    A  (;  A  IN  ST    SON. 

clams  or  other  slit-ll-ti.sh  that  iniylit  liave  Ijeckled 
thciv. 

T  caiiLjht  a  oral),  hut  soon  discovered  it  was  a 
s})id('r  crah  and  iioti^'dod  to  cat.  I  continued  wad- 
iiiL;'  hack  and  forth,  feeling  in  the  sand  with  my  feet 
and  IdokiuL;'  out  shar}»ly  for  anything  that  Avas 
ealalilc. 

"  Wc  will  \r\-  a  little  hiilher  iip.'"  I  said  ;  •"  there 
don't  seem  to  l)e  anv  o\"sters  here:  ""  and  with  this 
remark'  I  staited  foi- the  shoi'e,  AN'lieii  I  trod  on  soiiie- 
thini;-  shai-ji  and  hard  that  made  me  cry  out  \\ith 
})ain.  I  (lid  not  mind  the  jiain,  however,  A\hen  it 
hashed  upon  me  that  I  had  often  hui't  mv  feet  in 
the  same  way  on  oyster  shells  while  \vading  near 
lvi\-ermouth. 

I  [ilunu'ed  my  hand  irdt)  the  M'ater  and  nitid  and 
drew  otit  a  (dum[i  of  hu^'c  ovstci's,  saving'  jovfuUy, 
''Here's  our  hreakhist.  Phil;  we  shan't  Starve, 
tliat's  settled:  "  And  I  tossed  the  oysters  to  the 
shore,  where  Phil  got  two  stones  and  Ijroke  their 
totig'h  sludls  Itcfore  I  cotild  reach  him.  We  fotnid 
the  oysters  delicious,  and  after  eatiny  them  without 
lieing  satisfied  avc  waded  out  for  more,  and  soon 
discovered  that  those  I  liad  already  found  were  on 
tlie  edge  of  a  large  1)ed  of  them. 

After  this  we  found  some  rottnd  clams,  or  what 
are  known  as  (juahaugs,  on  the  flats.  We  soon  had 
eaten  all  we  wished,  and  then  discovered  that  we 
were  very  thirsty,  and  that  we  had  seen  no  water 
except  sea-water  on  this   desolate  stretch  of  beach. 


ON    A    BAlini'JX    SAND-BAR.  109 

Our  hopes  and  prospects,  which  had  h)oked  so  rosy 
but  the  mouieiit  before,  were  clouded  by  this  dis- 
covery. 

At  hist  I  said,  "We  have  been  saved  from  the 
sea,  and  from  starvation,  only  to  die  of  tliirst, 
Phih" 

"  Xo,"  said  he,  "  we  shall  find  water  here  ;  when 
strong  men  have  been  drowned  we  have  Ijeen 
saved,  and  I  liave  faith  that  we  shall  in  some  way 
get  out  of  this  scrape,  Hez.  Your  marm  used  to 
tell  us  we  must  trust  in  God.  It 's  a  good  time  to 
try  it  now,  Hez." 

I  made  no  reply,  but  was  ashamed  of  my  doubts, 
for  when  I  thought  of  the  almost  marvelous  man- 
ner of  our  preservation,  how  could  I  douljt  that  God 
had  stretched  out  his  hand  for  our  salvation  ?  I 
was  also  ashamed  that  Phil,  with  less  teaching 
than  I,  had  develr)ped  more  faith  than  I  had. 

We  ran  around  for  nearly  a  half-hour  without 
finding  water,  when  we  came  to  one  of  the  marshes 
whicli  we  had  passed  and  repassed  in  our  anxious 
search. 

"  There  is  water,  but  of  course  it  is  salt,"  said 
Phil,  throwing  a  stone  towards  a  little  pool  in  the 
midst  of  the  marsh.  Thinking  of  a  saying  of  my 
grandfather,  "  Never  take  anything  for  granted  un- 
til it  is  proved,"  I  went  to  the  pool,  scooped  up  a 
handful  of  water  and  put  it  to  my  lips.  It  was 
fresh  I  Remembering  to  have  seen  some  large 
clam-shells  on  the  beach,  such  as  my  mother  used 


110 


FATlIl'Al    MiMXST    SOX. 


f(ir  inilk-skiiiiint'is,  I  laii  and  yot  two  of  tliciii,  and 
IMiil  and  1  draidv  oiir  lill. 

'1'1iihil;1i  till'  water  was  tepid  and  Itraekisli.  I  do 
iKit  renieiiilter  to  lia\'e  e\'ei'  hefdi'e  drnnk  an\  tliinL;- 
witli  sueli  a  I'elisli.  'Idiis  jmihI  was  no  ddubt  water 
wliieli  in  keini;-  tillered  tln-(»UL;li  tlie  sand  tri»ni  tlie 
salt  water  had  liecmiie  tresli.  Trnly.  as  I'liil  had 
intimated,  (ind  had  showed  his  pur[»(_)se  of  pre- 
ser\in^'  onr  lives  I 

*•  ludoiv  yon  ^ot  up  this  nioriniH4\"' said  Phik  ''I 
felt  so  discouraged  that  it  seemed  that  there  was 
nothing'  to  do  hut  to  L;i\e  uj).  'Jlien  I  remem- 
l)ere<l  \\liat  niariii  used  to  tell  me:  •  Wdien  in 
trouhle.  i»i';iy."  I  had  forL;'olten  ahout  it  till  then. 
l)Ut  after  this  I  shall  ne\'er  for^'et  it  aii'ain.  I 
kneeled  down  in  the  sand,  tried  to  [)ray,  l)Ut 
eotdd  n't  think  of  aiiythiiiL;-  to  say  kut  "I'm  liun- 
i;rv  an"  in  a  ti^ht  plaee  :  [)lease  get  me  out.  Loixl,' 
and  it  seemed  that  He  heard  me.  for  I  felt  better 
as  soon  as  I  began  to  say  "hell)  me."  I  never 
eoidd  see  an\"  use  in  pi-aying.  but  I  shall  try  it  n()\v 
when  in  a  tight  spot.'" 

1  eould  n't  keep  from  smiling  at  Pliil's  cnule 
idea  of  prayer,  as  sonu'thing  ludd  in  reserve  until 
an  emergency  oecurre<l.  Hut  at  the  same  time  I 
thought  to  mvself,  '"It's  the  way  many  gr()\\n-u[) 
])eople  do.  "Truly,"  I  said,  finally.  "  if  we  draw- 
near   to   (Jod  he   will   draw  near  to   us." 

'•  We  uuist  mark  this  })lace,"  said  IMiil,  ''sowe 
will  be  sure  to  find  it  au'ain."" 


ON   A    DARREN    SAND-BAR.  Ill 

For  tins  purpose  I  broke  off  a  brunch  of  oak  from 
a  tree  growing  near  at  hand,  and  stuck  it  into  the 
sand  on  a  hillock  near  the  })0()1 ;  and  then,  to  make 
assurance  doubly  sure,  we  walked  toward  the  ocean 
in  as  straiglit  a  line  as  possible,  and  there  set  up 
another  mark  so  that  it  could  l)e  seen  from  the  shore. 

We  were  no  longer  blue  at  the  outlook,  for,  be- 
sides our  hunger  being  relieved,  we  both  had  faith 
in  an  overruling  Providence,  to  which  the  inci- 
dents of  the  morning  had  given  practical  force. 

AYe  reached  the  ocean  and  sat  for  a  few  mo- 
ments watching  the  breakers  as  they  chased  each 
other  to  the  shore  in  unceasing  succession,  and 
then  with  mournful  echoes  receded.  That  morn- 
ing they  seemed  to  be  saying,  "'-  Forevermore ! 
Forevermore  I  "  They  had  been  saj-ing  this,  I 
thought,  for  countless  ages  ;  singing  a  requiem 
for  the  ocean's  dead. 

""What  shall  we  do  next?"'  I  said;  and  we 
looked  into  eacli  other's  faces. 

"  It  makes  me  downhearted  to  hear  the  sad  sound 
of  the  sea,"  said  Phil,  "  and  I  say,  let  's  get  aAvay 
from  it  and  be  doing  sometliing." 

"  Well,  what  shall  we  do  ?  "  I  said. 

"  I  am  no  authority  on  desolate  islands,"  he  said, 
smiling  ;  ^  you  go  ahead  and  I  '11  follow." 

I  made  no  response  to  this  sally,  for  I  was  in- 
tent on   thinking. 

"'  The  tide  is  nearly  out,"  I  finally  said,  "  and  you 
remember   that    when  we  were  swimming  ashore 


112  FAl'IIICR    AGAINST    SOX. 

tlu'  tide  (•arri('(l  iioillici'lv  ii[>  llic  coast.  Sup[)(\se 
\vc  follow  till'  shore  aloiiL;'  in  that  direction,  and  see 
if  there  is  aiiytiiin".;'  cast  np  hv  the  sea  tli.it  we  can 
nse  :  iiia\he  we  shall  lind  a  harrel  of  hardljread, 
or  something'  of   that   kind,    Phil!"" 

••It's  just  thethin^!""  Phil  cried  ont  joyfnlly, 
••  I  wonder  1  did  n't  think  of  it  !  \\v  nii^'ht  as  well 
l»eL;in  exjiloi-iiiL;'  this  place  hrst  as  last  and  know  all 
that  can  l)e  ^ot  from  it  to  make  ns  comfoi'tahle."' 

So  we  set  out.  walking'  northward  on  the  liard 
heach  from  whiidi  the  tide  had  receded. 

As  we  ronnde(l  a  point  of  land  near  the  iidet  not 
a  (piarter  of  a  mile  from  where  we  started,  Ave 
came  to  a  part  of  the  coast  that  toi'ined  a  little  hay, 
where.  lookiiiL;'  northward,  we  saw  a  [lortioiL  of  tlie 
liri^;'  dee[)ly  suhnier^'ed,  l>nt  with  the  how  protrud- 
ing' fi'om  the  water.  An  ol)ject  on  the  flats  near 
the  inlet  arrested  our  attention.  It  looked  to  lis  as 
if  it  was  a  Iol;'  or  a  hn^'e  hundle,  hut  we  ho[)ed  it 
mi^ht   he   a   hamd   of  liread. 

.\s  we  ap})roached  it,  an  unspeakal)le  and  name- 
less (diill  crt'pt  ovei'  us. 

'^riie  same  dread  was  reflected  on  hotli  our  faces. 
Neither  of  us  spoke,  hut  we  drew  closer  to  each 
other  and  shuddered.  It  was  a  human  form;  that, 
doubtless,  of  one  of  our  former  shipmates.  We 
walked  slowly  and  in  silence  toward  this  dread 
ol)jt'ct.  l>oth  of  us  stop[)ed  a  few  paces  from  it  and 
looked  once  more  in  each  other's  faces  as  if  for  a 
renewal  of  courao-e. 


ox    A    DARREN    SAXD-BAR.  113 

''  It  "s  got  to  l)e  done,  Phil,"  I  at  last  said,  and 
then,  encouraged  Ijy  the  sound  of  my  own  voice,  I 
hastened  over  the  few  intervening  stents  and  stood 
beside  it. 

It  was  the  lifeless  body  of  poor  Billy  Tarljox  ! 

''  Poor  Bill  I  "  was  all  we  ccnild  say  as  we  gazed 
at  the  inanimate  form,  swollen,  and  disiigured  by 
the  waves'  cruel  buffets. 

'■'■  Dear  old  fellow  I  "  said  Phil,  "  he  was  such  a 
good,  faithful  man  I  Don't  you  remember  his  say. 
ing  that  a  sailor  nuist  be  prepared  to  face  every- 
thing, and  make  the  best  of  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  I  said  ;  "  and  I  heard  him  say  he  could  n't 
swim,  and  if  he  could,  he  should  be  drowned  just 
the  same  if  it  was  so  fated.  He  said  he  had  been 
shipwrecked  four  times,  and  when  men  who  could 
swim  had  been  drowned  he  had  been  saved." 

"  We  must  bury  the  poor  fellow,"  I  said ;  "  we 
can't  shirk  a  plain,  but  terrible,  duty  like  that.'' 

Before  burying  him,  we  took  from  his  feet  liis 
shoes  and  stockings,  also  took  his  large  silver  watch, 
and  his  oil  jacket,  and  trousers,  removed  his  belt 
and  sheath  knife  (which  a  sailor  always  wears,  l)ut 
we  had  removed  ours  from  our  persons  on  preparing 
to  swim  ashore).  We  also  felt  in  his  pockets  in 
hope  of  finding  a  flint  and  tinder  box.  Phil  had 
heard  Bill  say  he  always  kept  by  him  tlie  means  of 
lio-htino-  a  fire ;  and  that  even  should  he  be  cast 
away  on  a  whale's  back  he  could  cut  a  piece  of 
the   blubber   and   start  a  fire  with  it.     We  found 


1 14  FA  771 ER    A  ( /  .1 IXS  T    S  ON. 

nothing-  to  jnstity  this  Ixiast.  A  fish  line,  with 
sinker  and  Ikki]-;.  and  a  (bill  jioelvet-knife  A\'ere  all 
tliat    \vc    Iniiiid    tlieiH'. 

Al'tc]'this  w'c  scodprd  with  our  liai'c  hands  a  liole 
in  the  linisesand  far  ahoxc  hig'li-water  mark,  and 
to  this  \\r  carried  liini,  and  thei'e  we  hoth  knelt 
and  I  [ii-ayrd  —  not  very  formally,  l)nt  in  a  heart- 
fell  manner.  Then  eoveriny  him  with  sand  we 
tnrned   sadlv   away. 

•■It"s  hard  on  ns.  we  eaiTt  do  more,""  said  Phil, 
"hilt  I  know  l)illy  wonld  say  we  did  the  hest  we 
eoiild.'" 

Alter  this  we  turned  onr  steps  tOA\ard  tlie  por- 
tion of  the  "h^ndiite  ""  of  Avliieli  I  have  l)efore  made 
mention.  It  }iro\(Ml  to  he  in  deeper  \\ater  tlian  we 
could  reacli  -without  swimming,  and  as  the  tide  ran 
^\■itll  great  swiftness  near  tlie  shore  we  decided  that 
it  Mas  dang-erons  to  undertake  t<»  reach  it. 

It  was  this  inlet  that  caused  the  curient  to  carry 
us  ill  this  direction  when  \\e  A\ere  swinnning 
ashore,  and  which  afterward  earried  the  Avreck  to 
tliis  place. 

Al)out  a  lialf-mile  away  there  Avas  a  eontinna- 
tion  of  the  barren  sand-bar.  The  tide  was  rising 
and  the  Avater  was  pouring  I'apidly  tlu'Otigli  this 
nariow  inlet. 

There  was  no  appearance  of  an\'  human  habita- 
tion on  the  otlier  side  and  so  we  followed  the  shore 
around  the  iidet  to  the  Avest. 

Here  A\e  made  two  discoveries  ;  on  a  sand-bar  we 


ON    A    BARREN    SAND-BAR.  115 

found  a  fragment  of  an  old  sail,  and  at  anotlier 
point  a  liani,  which,  as  it  was  covered  with  thick 
cloth,  we  knew  to  l)e  a  part  of  our  cabin  stores. 
After  this  A\e  found  se\eral  small  things,  the  most 
valual)le  of  which  was  a  demijohn  covered  with 
^\"icker-^vork. 

"'  It's  the  mate's  wliiskey  bottle,"  I  said. 

'sJnst  the  thing  to  keep  water  in;  don't  throw 
it,"  exclaimed  Phil  as  I  made  a  motion,  at  the 
first  impulse,  to  cast  it  back  into  the  sea. 

Later  we  found  a  piece  of  the  hatcli  partly- 
covered  l)y  seaweed.  This  we  threw^  out  of  the 
reach  of  the  tide,  not  knowing  what  use  it  might 
sometime  be  to  us. 

We  now  retraced  our  steps  luitil  we  reached  the 
place  we  had  started  from  in  the  morning,  wdiicli 
was  not  more  than  a  half  a  mile  away.  We  were 
encouraged  by  the  results  of  our  morning's  work, 
for  we  now  had  several  things  to  make  our  life 
here  more  endurable. 

Phil  had  begun  to  ^\'hittle  from  a  piece  of  tlie 
topmast  which  he  had  split  off,  with  Billy's  sheath 
knife,  which  was  very  sharp. 

"  What  are  you  doing  tliat  for?  "  I  said. 

"  We  've  [/ot  to  have  a  fire  in  some  way,"  he  re- 
plied, "  I  do  n't  know  exactly  how." 

"  You  do  n't  expect  to  start  one  by  the  friction 
of  whittling,  do  you?  "  I  said  derisively ;  then  added, 
"•  I  would  n't  fret  just  at  present,  Phil,  for  there  's 
no  chance  for  a  fire,  as  I  see.     I  wish  we  had  some 


IIG 


FAT  111:11    AC  A  INST    SON. 


kind  of  a  sliadr,  tlie  sun  eomcs  as  throuu'li  a  l)urii- 
iny-u'lass."" 

Pliil  at  this  jniiip('(l  to  liis  feet  \x\\\\  a  veil, 
cxclaiiiiiiiL;-.   ••  W'r  "il   lia\c   a    lire    lie/.,   liui'i'ali  !  "' 

I  looked  at  IMiil  lliiid^iiiL;  lie  liad  i^diu'  mad,  until 
lie  tool-;  out  tlic  crxstal  ot  liilTs  ^\■at(■ll,  and  said, 
•.•llcn'"s  a  liuriiiuL;'-L;'lass  !  ""  IMiil.  with  tliis.  toiv 
tVoui  tlic  haul  sonic  oily  |ia})i'r  A\hich  ^\'as  now  dry, 
and  then  tor  a  half  hour  sat  iiaticntly  trying  to 
start  a  tire.  Tln'rc  soon  ^\-as  a  smoke  in  l■^■id(■n(•e, 
hut  no  tii'c.  It  was  iuipossihle  to  make  a  hla/.e 
with  the  i;lass,  though  the  [nijier  was  seorehed  and 
charred. 

\\  last  I'liil  threw  tlie  n'lass  from  liim  in  ang'er 
saving,  "It's  all  liumhug,  the  things  \\-e  read  in 
hooks  I 

Afterwai'ds  we  tilled  our  demijohn  with  M'ater,  got 
some  oysters  and  (dams,  and  with  a  piece  of  raw 
ham  made  out  (jiute  a  su})per,  —  itsing  large  clam 
shells  (which  W(,'  found  in  ahttudance  )  for  plates 
for  our  oysters.  After  this  we  gatlieu'd  a  large 
quantity  of  the  dried  marsh  grass  and  made  a  l)ed 
in  a  }>lace  sheltered  from  the  ■wind,  using  the  piece 
of  old  sail  for  a  hedspivad,  M'itli  })oor  Bill's  oil 
clothes  and  pea-jacket   underneath   to  keep  us  dry. 

Then,  after  our  old  manner,  we  Ijegan  to  discitss 
the  events  of  the  day.  and,  among  otlier  matters, 
how  we  shotild  get  otf  from  this  desolate  sand-key. 

"We  have  never  l)een  far  to  the  southwa.rd,"" 
said    Phil,   -  and  how  do  we  know  luit  there  are 


ON    A    BARREN    SAND-BAR.  117 

people  living-  here.  People  must  come  here  to  fish 
and  hunt,  anyway." 

It  was  agreed,  hefore  we  went  to  sleep,  that  on 
the  next  day  we  would  explore  to  the  southward  as 
far  as  possible. 

Soon  after  we  reached  this  conclusion  we  were 
fast  asleep. 


US 


i'Arjii:n  a<.ai y s i ■  ,s ox. 


ClIAPTi:i{    XT. 


AVE    MAKE    ])lS('(tVEi;iES. 


l^Ai;LV  ill  the  iiioriiiiiL^'  we  l>L'g';iii  prepiirations 
l'i;r  our  j()unn'\'.  \\'e  awit  fully  (IcttTiniiiLMl  not 
to  iTtui'ii  umil  A\c  hail  niadi'  a  tliiiiou^'li  cxploi'a- 
tidii  aii<l  ItMiiicil  wlicix'  this  saii<l-l)ar  tiTiniiiatt'd, 
(ir  IouikI  its  iiihaititaiits  if  thfiv  wciv  any.  With 
tlK'si'  ivsnliitiniis.  we  gatlirivd  ii|i  cvrrytliiiig  (.)t' 
(Uir  in-diici'ty  that  it  \\as  practiralilc  tnr  ns  tu  carry, 
as  it  was  possihk-  \\"(.'  might  not  rutuni  tu  this  plaer. 

At  I'liihs  siiggc'stiiju  wf  SL't  ii[i  till'  tdpinast  on 
the  liluiV  near  the  orcaii.  with  the  camas  w"c  had 
iuuiid  llying  IVoni  the  top  as  a  signal  (if  distress. 
AW'  also  scratched  on  the  mast  a  few  words,  so 
that  an\-  one  coming  upon  it  would  know  of  ou.r 
whereabouts.  \\\'  lilled  oui'  bottle  with  A\ater,  as 
we  did  not  know  that  A^e  should  he  al)le  to  hnd  a 
sup[)ly  on  our  way.  To  carry  ottr  food,  which  con- 
sisted of  ham,  o\"sters,  and  clams,  A\"e  cut  off  the 
bottom  of  the  legs  of  Hilks  (lil  trousers  and  fastened 
up  one  end  with  twine;  and  as  the  trottsers  were 
very  wide  they  made  excellent  l)ags,  or  haver- 
sacks. We  carried  these  bags  by  straps  over  ottr 
shoulders.  The  stra[)s  were  made  by  cutting  Bilks 
wide   belt  in  two.  lengthwise. 

The   larger  p(_trtion   of  the   ham,  wdiich  we    luid 


WE    MAKE    DISCOVERIES.  ll'.> 

not  sliced,  we  put  into  a  hole  at  the  foot  of 
the  topmast,  after  carefully  wrap})iny'  it  in  dried 
grass  and  covering  it  with  stones.  Over  these  we 
laid  the  hatch  (of  Avliieh  I  have  elsewhere  made 
mention)  and  covered  the  whole  with  sand.  Hav- 
ing made  these  preparations,  and  others  which 
are  too  unim[>ortant  to  mention  here,  we  started 
out  on  our  explorations. 

As  we  hegan  our  journey  the  sun  rose  in  un- 
clouded splendor,  and  such  is  the  elasticity  of 
youth  and  health  that,  notwithstanding  our  environ- 
ment of  hardship  and  the  dreary  stretches  of  sand, 
we  were  liopeful,  and  hegan  our  prospecting  tour 
with  a  certain  spice  of  enjoyment.  We  determined 
that,  at  short  intervals,  one  of  us  should  go  to 
the  top  of  the  hluff  to  make  oljservations  of  the 
countr}',  that  wo  important  feature  of  it  might 
esca[)e  our  attention. 

We  saw  several  red  foxes,  and  as  they  were  un- 
disturhed  hy  our  presence  we  felt  assured  that  there 
were  no  inhabitants  there. 

We  had  not  traveled  along  the  hard-heaten 
shore  more  than  an  hour  when  w^e  came  to  the 
limits  of  the  sand-har.  A  strait  a  half-mile  or 
more  in  width  separated  us  from  a  continuation 
of  this  stretch  of  desolate  barren  beach.  The 
whole  island  we  judged  to  l)e  aljout  two  miles  and 
a  half  long.  We  went  to  the  top  of  the  sand-hill 
and  gazed  on  the  opposite  land,  but  saw  no  signs 
of  dwellings  or   of   man's  presence   there.     There 


1-20  FATiiini  A(;aixst  so.\. 

-was  IK)  soniul  except  the  sereech  of  sea-gulls  and 
the  roai'  of  the  hi'cakers. 

For  a  h'w  iiioiiieiits  we  sat  in  silence  on  the 
l)luff.  gazing  across  the  strait  to  the  o})posite  land, 
oppressed  l»y  the  dreary  outlook  that  confronted 
us.  We  now  knew  that  ^ve  A\ere  on  a  sand-ljar 
encompassed  hy  A\'ater. 

The  tears  came  to  Phihs  eyes  and  lie  lihtlthered 
otitrighl,  wliile  I  felt  my  heart  siidc  like  lead,  so 
oppressed  was  I  liy  tlie  situation  that  now  A\as  a 
eertaiiitv  and   not  a  surmise. 

Finally  Phiks  face  cleared,  and  he  said.  "  Ilez, 
this  /.s-  your  kind  of  an  island,  and  1  wash  my 
hands   of   it.   old    fellow  I  "' 

••  Had  we  helter  swim  across  to  the  other  side?"' 
J  said.  ••There  may  lie  people  living  there,  and  if 
there  are  none  A\e  are  no  worse  off  there  than  we 
are  here." 

••  Well,  Ilez,"  said  Phil,  ••you  hare  got  courage, 
l)Ut  I  feel  as  gloomy  and  hopeless  as  can  he.  There 
seems  no  chance  to  get  away  from  here." 

••I  dou"t  feel  Aery  ho})efttl  myself,  Phil,"  I  said, 
••hut  we  are  no  worse  olT  than  we  were  this  morn- 
ing, and  A\e  know  now  just  how  the  land  lies.  I 
shouldn't  wonder  if  there  were  peo})le  living  on  the 
other  side  of  this  strait,  after  all."' 

Though  I  said  this  to  kee})  tt[)  my  own  courage 
as  Avell  as  Phiks,  it  afterwards  proved  that  in  this 
random  remark  1  had  hit  somewhere  near  the  truth. 
There  were  hshermen"s  huts  beyond  land  that  was 


WE    MAKE    DISCOVERIES.  121 

in  plain  sight  from  where  Ave  sat  so  despondent 
and  gloomy,  and  we  shonld  have  fonnd  no  great 
difficulty  in  crossing  the  strait. 

After  a  moment  we  began  to  walk  to  the  west- 
ward along  the  shore.  We  saw  here  several  shoals 
of  fish,  but  they  were  a  kind  called  bony  fish,  and 
though  Phil  was  eager  to  try  to  get  some  of  them 
I  knew  we  couldn't  cook  them  if  we  were  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  get  them. 

We  skirted  the  strait  and  reached  tlie  shore  of 
the  sound,  wliere  we  found  oysters  and  clams  in 
profusion,  but  we  had  no  immediate  need  of  them. 
We  wandered  over  the  entire  sand-spit. 

It  was  al)out  twelve  o'clock  when  we  came  to 
a  little  spring  in  the  sand,  which  we  found  to  l)e 
clear,  cold,  and  remarkably  pure. 

In  the  vicinity  was  a  number  of  stones,  evidently 
brought  there  by  some  one ;  on  one  of  them  I  sat 
down. 

Phil  threw  off  the  oil  coat  which  he  had  been 
wearing,  and  as  he  did  this  he  exclaimed,  ^  What 's 
that?" 

I  looked  up  inquiringly,  when  he  explained  l)y 
saying,  "  I  heard  a  sound  when  I  threw  the  coat 
down  —  a  sort  of  a  clink  like  a  piece  of  money." 

"  You  imagined  it,  Phil,"  I  said. 

"  I  don't  imagine  things,  Hez,"  said  Phil.  "  It  is 
you  who  hear  and  see  tilings  that  never  existed  !  " 

I  picked  up  the  jacket  and  began  to  look  it  over 
carefully,  for  I  kncAV  that  Phil's  imagination  never 


122  FArni:R  AaAiysr  son. 

](.■(!  liim  astiMv  as  mine  soniotiiiics  did  luc  :  l>nt  I 
could  liiid  iiolliiuL;'.  sd  tlnvw  it  ou  a  stout:',  and 
tlu'ii  I  too  lieard  a  iiictallic  (diid<  wliicli  awakriuMJ 
WW  cui'iosity  as  it  liad  I'liiTs. 

"  There  is  souu'tliiiiL;'  tlieiv."  I  said:  and  witli 
tliat  licL;'an  to  search  tlie  L;arnu'id  onet'  more. 

'■  It  "s  all  inooiishiiie  !  Tliere's  iiotliiuL;'  ill  tliat  old 
Coat  Itut  \\\\\\.{  we  see.""  and  with  tliis  hall'-(iiicru- 
lous  remark  1  passed  the  coat  to  my  I'i^ht  liaiid. 

"'Idle  eoat  is  haunted.  I  guess,"  said  Phil  jo- 
costdv.  "  for  w'e  lioth  can  hear  something  that  we 
can't  see."' 

I.  ho\vc\'er.  was  all  excitement  just  tlien.  for  my 
right  hand  had  come  in  contact  with  a  hard  std> 
stauce  that  might  explain  the  clink. 

I 'nder  and  just  inside  the  arndiole  of  the  riglit 
slee\e  I  found  a  little  pocdvct.  closed  l)y  a  flap  which 
was  sewed  dtiwn  :  this  I  quickly  ri]>ped  with  the 
knife,  hut  found  the  pocket  also  sewed  tt}i,  and 
oiled  over  like  the  I'cst  of  the  coat.  On  cutting 
the  stitches  away,  I  fottnd  inside  of  the  little 
})ocket  a  packet  al)out  three  inches  long,  wra})ped 
and  stitclied  in  oiled  silk,  which,  when  divested  of 
its  covering,  proved  to  he  a  metallic  case  sectirely 
closed,  and  containing  matches  that  were  as  dry  as 
on  the  day  they  were  placed  tliere.  Very  few 
people,  except  those  Avho  have  been  without  fire 
under  similar  circumstances,  can  I'ealize  our  joy  at 
the  discovery  of  these  matches. 

We  quickly  gathered  some  dry  grass,  and  some 


WE    MAKE    DISCnVKRTES.  123 

dry  scrul>-oak  limbs  from  a  clump  of  trees  \\lii(li 
grew  near  l)y,  and  started  a  tire,  at  tirst  for  the 
mere  novelty  of  it,  but  on  second  tliouglit  ^ve  con- 
cluded to  cook  something  for  our  dinner. 

We  sharpened  sticks  and  on  them  fixed  pieces  of 
l)acon,  and  after  l)ro\yning  one  side  of  the  Ijacon 
by  holding  it  oyer  the  l)laze  Ave  put  an  oyster  on 
it  and  held  the  other  side  oyer  the  fire,  thus  cook- 
ing the  bacon  and  \yarming  if  not  fi'}'ing  the 
oysters. 

"We  made,  as  we  then  thought,  a  royal  dinner; 
for  what  Avas  lacking  in  our  cooking  was  made  up 
by  fine  appetites,  such  as  I  doubt  if  any  king  on  a 
throne  ever  had.  If  there  is  any  blessing  that  I 
then  had  the  loss  of  wliich  I  lament  at  this  day,  it 
was  that  fine  appetite.  In  looking  back  to  that 
time  I  think  I  never  enjoyed  food  as  I  did  then 
and  there  under  the  lilue  southern  sky,  with  pure 
water  for  our  drink.  The  feast  is  truly  in  the 
palate. 

After  eating  our  fill  we  sat  there  talking,  and 
laughing,  even,  for  some  time.  AVe  filled  the 
water-bottle  from  the  spring,  and  left  the  fire  as 
regretfully  as  a  miser  leaves  his  gold  l)ehind. 

"I  shall  always  feel  grateful  to  Bill  for  these 
matches,"  said  Phil,  "  for  they  seem  just  like  a 
gift  from  him." 

"Yes,"  I  agreed,  "this  match-safe  and  its  con- 
tents, preserved  so  marvelously,  is  the  result  of 
Bill's  forethought  and  experience,  and  justifies  his 


124  FATURIl    ACAIXSr    SON. 

saying  that  lie  liad  tlie  incaiis  of  kindling  a  fire 
always  \\\  lilm."" 

We  liad  not  gone  niori'  than  a  Imndred  yards 
from  the  spring  when  IMiil,  pointing  aliead  of  ns, 
exelainied.   "'  Looh  :   theiv  "s  a  honsi' !  "" 

Snrc  cnoHgh.  a  short  distance  alicad  tliere  pro- 
trndcd  a  chiinncy  from  l)ehind  a  sand-hill.  We 
hnrried  toward  it  :  l)Ut  fonnd  it  was  only  a  chim- 
ney. ()nr  disap[iointnient  Avas  great,  for  it  had  not 
occurred  to  ns  tliat  there  might  lie  a  tdiimney 
without  a  latusc.  or  a  house  without  any  one  living 
in  it. 

As  we  came  to  it  we  found  that  1)csides  the 
ehinnu'V  tlicre  remaine(l  only  a  h'\\'  wcatlicrd»eaten 
lioards  and  joists,  a  door,  scatti-red  [)ieees  of  I'usty 
tin,  and  a  lew  shingles. 

"•It  was  a  A\reck-liouse,"  said  Phil:  ''it  was 
blown  down,  [tcrhaps.  and  ])eo})le  \\\in  have  heen 
here  at  dilfercnt  times  have  used  the  fragments 
for   firewood."' 

The  reason  wc  had  not  seen  it  l)efore  was  that 
it  was  hidden  between  two  sandhills,  so  that  look- 
ing from  the  ocean  to  the  sound  one  could  not  see 
it,  and  so  though  it  was  near  wliere  Ave  Avere  cast 
on  shore  we  had  not  stund)led  ujion  it  before. 

"  ]More  likely  they  Iiave  carried  aAvay  parts  of 
it,"'  I  said.  "  I  liave  noticed  it  is  the  nature  of 
some  people  to  cany  off  or  desti'oy  Avliat  they  can't 
use,  and  very  likely  that  AA-as  done  in  this  ease." 

Phil  Avent  to  the  fireplace  and  scraped  out   some 


WE    MAKE    DISCOVERIES.  125 

of  the  ashes  and  said,  "See  here!'*  and  Avith  that 
showed  me  a  lot  of  nails.  "  You  see  by  this,"  said 
he,  ''  that  it  is  as  I  said.  They  have  been  using-  it 
for  firewood."' 

''Yes,"  I  said,  *'aiid  perhaps  they  were  poor, 
shipwrecked  ])eo[)le  like  ourselves." 

"  I  "11  tell  you,  Phil,  what  we  had  better  do,"  I 
said,  after  a  moment's  th(HTgiit ;  ''  we  will  build  a 
little  shanty  right  u})  against  tliis  chimney.  It  is 
near  the  spring,  and  it  is  convenient  to  both  the 
ocean  and  the  Sound  ;  it  is  sheltered  from  the  wind, 
and  there  is  that  clump  of  scrul)s  near  the  spring, 
—  that  will  be  convenient,   too."' 

Phil  agreed  with  me,  and  said.  '•  Yes,  and  people 
will  come  here  for  water  and  wood,  and  those 
who  've  used  the  fireplace  once  may  come  here 
again." 

Although  we  had  been  favored  with  fair  weather 
since  the  storm  in  Avhich  aa'C  had  been  cast  away, 
we  knew  that  we  could  not  reckon  on  it  for  long. 
So  we  agreed  to  begin  the  construction  of  a  hut  at 
once. 

With  this  in  view  we  began  to  clear  away  a 
space  near  the  chinmey.  In  doing  this  work,  under 
the  debris  we  came  u])on  an  old  rusty  fry -pan, 
which,  though  broken  at  one  side,  was  to  us  like 
gold,  so  valuable  was  it  for  cooking.  "  We  're  set 
up  in  housekeeping  now,"  exclaimed  Phil  joyfully; 
"  we  've  got  a  place  to  cook,  matches  to  kindle  a 
fire,  and  a  fry-pan  !  " 


126  FATHER    AfiAIXST    SON. 

Before  dark,  so  earnestly  had  we  \voi'l.:ed,  \\'e  liad 
not  only  cleared  the  space  needful  for  onr  hut.  hut 
had  gilt  together  all  the  nails  and  pieces  of  joists 
and  hoards,  and  arranged  them  foi'  our  \\'oik  in  the 
morning. 

Not  until  this  did  we  kindle  a  fire  and  eoolc  S(»me 
oystei's  and  hacon  after  our  old  hishion.  tor  tiie 
l)roken  fry-pan  would  need  to  have  a  good  deal  of 
rust  scoured  from  it  l)efore  it  was  ht  lor  use. 
AVhen  we  awoke  in  the  morning  we  wrw  so  eager 
to  hegin  our  house  that  though  we  had  hut  a  few 
oysters  we  felt  Me  could  not  then  spend  time  to 
gather  more. 

.At  lirst  we  had  ])lanned  to  l)uild  up  the  sides  of 
onr  hut  with  s<'awee(l,  hut  Hnalh'  deeiiled  (as  aac 
hoped  to  he  detained  hut  a  slioi't  time  on  this 
island,  and  as  warm  weatlier  was  near)  to  huild 
only  a  temporaiy  shelter  that  would  keep  us  di'v 
and  warm  in  ease  of  a  storm. 

For  this  purjiose  we  shai'}iene(l  the  }M)int  of  one 
of  the  joists,  and  digging  down  to  the  (day  set  the 
joist  into  the  ground  as  solid  as  possilile,  opposite 
and  ahout  nine  feet  from  tlie  (diimney.  This  up- 
right stood  ahout  seven  feet  out  of  the  gi'ound,  and 
on  tins  we  had  })lanned  to  [)ut  one  end  of  a  joist 
and  fasten  to  it  for  a  ridgepole.  It  puzzled  us  for 
a  time,  however,  Ik^w  to  tix  the  other  end  of  tlie 
ridgepole  to  the  ehimney.  We  could  drive  another 
stake,  to  be  sure,  hut  it  would  he  in  the  way  of  our 
hreplaee.     Finally  Phil    proposed    that  we   knock 


WE    MAKE    DISCOVERIES.  127 

out  one  of  the  bricks  in  the  centre  of  the  cliinmey 
at  the  desired  height,  and  in  the  hole  thus  made 
insert  one  end  of  the  joist. 

Phil  got  on  my  shoulders,  and  l)y  scratching 
away  the  mortar  with  a  nail,  and  then  pounding 
with  a  stone,  the  hrick  was  finally  loosened. 

It  was  noon  l)efore  the  ridgepole  was  fastened, 
and  as  we  were  tired  and  hungry  we  set  to  work 
to  get  our  dinner. 

We  scoured  out  the  broken  fry-pan,  opened  some 
oysters  and  fried  them,  and  soon  had  one  of  the 
most  appetizing  meals  we  had  had  since  we  were 
shipwrecked. 

Before  night  came  we  had  got  the  piece  of  sail 
from  the  topmast,  attached  pieces  of  rope  to  each 
side  of  it,  thrown  the  canvas  over  tlie  ridgepole 
and  fastened  it  to  the  ground  l)y  pins,  and  had  a 
very  comfortable  tent  that  would  protect  us  from 
rain  and  wind. 

During  the  week  that  followed,  though  it  rained 
several  times,  we  fixed  up  the  space  left  open  on 
each  side  of  our  chimney  l)y  driving  into  tlie 
ground  pieces  of  board  which  we  split  with  our 
knife,  and  then,  using  the  twigs  for  wattles,  w^ove 
them  in  and  out  like  basket-work  (though  very 
roughly)  between  these  stakes,  with  the  long  beach- 
grass  for  filling.  As  this  did  not  keep  out  the  w^lnd 
we  gathered  seaweed,  which  lay  in  almndance  on 
the  shore,  and,  as  we  were  not  particular  about  the 
looks  of  our  house  we  filled  in  the  crevices  w4th 


1-28  FATHER    AGAINST    SOX. 

tliis  and  piled  it  np  a^'aiiist  tlic  sides.  Tlie  otlier 
end  of  the  tent  we  l)uilt  up  in  the  same  waw  lea\-inL;' 
a  space  so  tliat  we  eouhl  put  np  the  (hior  from  tlie 
inside.  We  also  lianked  U[i  the  sides  of  the  tent 
with  sand. 

There  still,  however.  remaintMl  at  each  end.  near 
the  to})  of  our  roof,  an  open  space  wlii(di  we  conld 
not  hnd  means  to  close  except  imperfectly:  but  we 
e(.)nsoled  ours(dves.  l>y  sayiny  that  holes  \\ere  need- 
ful for  ventilation. 

After  that  we  laiilt  a  slee[»inL;'-l»nnl\.  and  also  set 
the  hatch  upon  four  stakes  for  a  tahle.  and  then  we 
felt  that  if  our  sui'roundinLjs  were  not  very  nice  or 
elegant  they  were  at  least  comfortahle. 

While  engaged  in  hnilding  our  hut  (and  it  took 
us  several  days),  we  kept  a  shar[i  lookout  iV)r  lisher- 
men,  or  foranv  one  ^\dlo  might  \'isit  this  [ilace. 

As  we  had  a  fish-hook  and  line  we  made  several 
attem})ts  to  cateh  fish,  but  without  success.  Phil 
faeetiouslv  declared  that  the  trouble  with  the  hook 
was.  "it  was  too  small  for  an  anchor  and  too  large 
for  lish." 

Shortly  after  we  had  got  tlie  roof  to  our  tent 
pitched  we  went  to  the  northern  end  of  the  island, 
with  some  clams  for  l)ait,  to  try  once  more  for  hsh. 
Phil,  on  the  way.  had  found  a  small  dead  fish, 
which,  for  fun,  he  fixed  to  tlie  hook,  unknown  to 
me.  When  at  the  strait  he  threw  the  liook  and 
fisli  into  the  water  and  excdaimed  that  he  had 
catight  a  fish,  but  I  saw  ])V  his  manner  that  he  was 


WE    MAKE    DISCOVER//' S.  129 

trying  to  play  some  kind  of  a  joke  on  me  :  l)ut  in 
another  moment  there  was  a  great  wliirl,  the  line 
tightened,  and  Pliil  Avas  red  in  the  faee  with  ex- 
citement and  exertion. 

"  It  's  a  big  one,  Phil  I  "  I  said,  fully  aroused. 
"  Play  him  as  you  would  a  trout,  or  your  line  "11 
break."  Finally,  seeing  that  Phil  did  not  under- 
stand what  was  required,  I  took  the  line,  and  after 
a  struo'gle  of  several  moments  I  landed  a  largfe 
striped  bass,  Aveighing,  I  should  judge  without  exag- 
geration, not  far  from  thirty  pounds. 

We  were  very  exultant  OA^er  tliis  l)ig  fish,  as  AA'e 
carried  it  to  our  hut  and  prepared  it  for  cooking.  It 
was  delicious  eating  when  fried  with  ham  fat.  The 
portions  Ave  did  not  eat  we  prepared  for  drails  Avith 
Avhich  to  catch  other  bass,  or  blue-fish,  and  thence- 
forth Avere  seldom  Avithout  this  kind  of  food. 

Shortly  after  this,  Avhen  aa^c  Avere  out  on  one  of 
our  prospecting  tramps,  Ave  saAV  a  schooner  in  the 
Sound;  but  though  Ave  shouted  and  signaled  by 
SAvinging  our  jackets  she  kept  on  her  course  Avitli- 
out  seeing  us. 

This  incident  made  us  very  despondent,  instead 
of  encouraging  us  as  I  now  see  it  should  have 
done,  because  it  shoAved  that  vessels  occasionally 
passed  through  these  watere.  At  no  time  since  Ave 
Avere  cast  upon  this  place  were  Ave  so  doleful  as  over 
our  failure  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  people  on 
board  the  schooner.  I  perhaps  Avas  tlie  more  dis- 
couraged for  some  reason  Avhich  I   did  not  then 


180 


FATHER    AGAIXSr    Sr>N. 


iiii(l('i'st;iii(l.  I  was  luiaccduiitiilily  drpressi'd,  and 
lacldiiL;'  ill  slrciigth   and   energy. 

At  aiKitliiT  liiiu'  A\n'  cainc  t(i  a  |tlaee  on  tlie  sliore 
of  the  Siiunil  wliiMc  tlii'iv  w'ci'c  trai-ks  ot  nu-n's 
feet  in  tlic  sand,  as  if  a  iiaity  liad  Lnidfd  there 
hut  a  slml-t  time  hefoie.  We  ran  aiiHind  the 
island  lil^e  <listi'aele<l  ei'eatures.  slionlinM'  and  eall- 
in^',  in  liopes  tliat  s(»ine  of  the  men  \\'ei-e  srill  there  : 
hut   all   in    \'ain. 

At  aniither  time,  \\liile  eodkini;-,  we  heard  the 
Sdund  (if  I'itles  or  shot-^■uns.  and  I'ushed  out  ex- 
jieclim;-  that  our  delix'erance  was  at  hand  :  liut  it 
was  ft»,L;',L;y  on  the  Soun(h  and  thounh  we  shouted 
and    liallooe(h    no   one   ans\\('re(l    the   call. 

Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  though  we  were  not 
sui'fei-iuL;'  from  hun^'er.  or  tliii'sl,  or  cold,  A\-e  were 
in  greater  meidal  (hstress  than  we  A\ere  wlien  suf- 
feriui;'  all  of   these  ills. 

This  showed  me  that  truth  A\'hieh  lias  often 
since  heen  einphasi/AMl  in  my  life,  that  the  inflitence 
of  AN'orry  and  fret  over  imaninary  hardslnps,  and 
forehodings  of  ills  that  often  ne\er  come,  are  to 
physical  hardships  as  two  to  one.  Later  in  life 
I  ha^■e  learned  that  each  moment  is  complete  in 
itself,  and  hihiL;s   only   its   i)wu   ills. 

One  moridng  Ave  heard  heavy  liring  in  a  south- 
erly direction.     This  excited  us  very  much. 

*•'  There  are  men  w  hei'c  that  firing  is,"  said  Phil, 
"and  I  say  we  A'e  stayed  here  long  enough.  Let's 
leave !  " 


WJ'J    MAKE    DLSrOVERlES.  131 

"  Well,  what  is  your  plan  ?  "  I  askt'd.  *"  We  can't 
swim  across  tlie  Sound;  and  we  might  as  well  try 
that  as  to  swim  where  the  tide  runs  as  it  does  at 
either  the  north  or  the  south  strait." 

"  What 's  the  matter  with  a  raft  ? ""  said  Phil. 

'' I  h;\ve  n't  thought  of  it  hefore  ;  I  helieve  I 
should  have  tried  it  before  this  if  I  had,"  I  huml)ly 
confessed. 

"  We'll  try  it  now,  then,  if  you  think  it  a  o()(,d 
plan,"'  said  Phil.  ''  Let 's  start  across  the  south  inlet 
and  get  out  of  this  at  once." 

After  talking  it  over  we  decided  to  start  the  next 
morning  early,  devoting  the  intervening  time  to 
preparation. 

Under  this  incentive  I  roused  myself  to  make  an 
effort,  but  said  to  Pliil:  "  Phililnister,  for  some 
reason  I  don't  feel  interested  in  anything  that 
requires  get-up-ativeness.  I  don't  seem  to  have 
much  energy  or  strength." 


132  FATHER    AGAINST    SON. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

WE    (4];()PE    IX    DAIIKNESS. 

Eai;ly  in  the  iiioniini[r  ^ve  Ih'^uii  to  convey  to 
tlie  strait  the  materials  for  oui'  I'aft.  In  this  work 
we  traveled  on  the  ocean  side  just  l>elo\v  hi^'h-water 
mark,  where  the  sand  was  as  jiard  as  a  maeadam- 
ized  road. 

IJythe  time  we  liad  o-ot  the  door  of  onr  hut  to 
the  south  strait  1  fouud  myself  tired  and  heated. 
As  I  had  till  then  l)een  strong  and  A\ell,  1  did  not 
attach  to  niv  indisposition  any  other  meaning  ex- 
cept fatigue.  So  1  ke[it  at  work  without  men- 
tioning my  sensations,  otlier  than  to  say  that  I 
was  tired. 

AVhen  at  last  ^^•e  liad,  Avitli  great  labor,  got  all 
our  materials  for  the  contem})lated  raft  to  the  })lace 
where  we  were  to  emhark,  on  putting  them  together 
we  found  that  the  raft  would  not  carry  even  one 
of  us.  We  were  greatly  discouraged  at  this,  and 
I  was  on  the  })oint  of  advising  that  we  return  to 
the  place  of  our  old  hut  and  give  u[)  the  atteni])t 
to  get  away. 

After  looking  across  the  narrow  strait  Avistfully 
at  the  other  shore  Phil  said,  ''If  you  Avere  n't  so 
awful  down  in  the  mouth,  llez,  I  should  say  our 
best  plan  in  any  case,  wdietlier  the  raft  would  cany 


WE    GROl'E    IX    DARKXESS.  133 

us  or  not,  would  be  to  strip,  put  our  clothes  and 
other  stuff  on  the  raft,  and  s\A'ini  across,  pushing  the 
raft;  for  don"t  you  see,  old  fel',  avc  couldn't  paddle 
the  awkward  thing,  even  if  it  would  carry  us  and 
we  had  good  paddles,  and  we  have  n't  got  anything 
that  is  like  one." 

I  recognized  tlie  force  of  Phil's  remarks,  and 
mechanically  began  to  take  off  my  clothes,  and 
Phil,  understanding  my  act  as  a  tacit  assent  to  his 
intimated  proposition,  follow^ed  my  example.  With- 
out another  word  we  \\aded  into  the  chilling  cur- 
rent and,  iJUshinQf  the  raft  l)efore  us,  be  ran  to 
swim. 

At  first  the  chill  seemed  to  penetrate  to  my  very 
marrow,  but  after  swinnning  a  few  yards  a  reaction 
set  in  and  I  was  somewhat  warmer,  but  still  had  to 
force  myself  to  action.  I  did  not  understand  that 
this  might  mean  the  beginning  of  a  serious  sick- 
ness, for  I  had  always  been  strong  and  well,  and 
therefore  could  not  understand  that  I  was  anything 
but  indolent. 

The  sky  was  overcast,  and  that  had,  as  I  thought, 
some  influence  in  causing  me  to  feel  depressed. 

"What's  the  matter?"  said  Phil,  while  puffing 
and  blowing  and  looking  very  red  in  the  face. 
"  There  don't  seem  to  be  any  git  in  you,  and  this 
raft 's  going  out  to  sea  just  as  fast  as  the  tide  can 
take  it !  We  've  got  to  put  on  more  steam,  Hez, 
or  we  won't  fetch  the  other  side  of  tliis  little 
brook." 


134  FATHER    AdAIXST    SnX. 

I  then  saw  tor  the  lirst  time  that  a  strdiio-  current 
^^■as  cai'iTin^i;'  us  dcranward.  I  put  on  a  spurt,  hut 
WT  still  eontiiuiril  to  drift  to\\ar(l  the  niouth  of  the 
strait. 

"It  \\-on"t  do!""  cxclaiuu'd  Phil,  ratchini;'  his 
hi'catli  and  lool^iuj^  srariMl.  ••  Wc  nii^ht  as  wull 
turn   ha(d<   and    L;'ct   ashore   while   ^\■e   can."" 

"It  must  d(».""  I  said,  now  fullv  ai'oused  to  our 
daUL^cr.  ••  We  nii^'hl  as  well  l;o  to  sea  ^\■i^h  the  raft 
as  to  l;ii  ;isliore  w  ithout  onr  cdothes. 

I'.ul  lhoUL;li  ni\-  words  cx])i-esse(l  conlideiice  and 
couraL;'c,  and  though  they  hcarteiiefj  I'hil,  I  was  hir 
from  feelini;'  anything;'  hut  a  (h'Sperate  resolution 
not    to   turn   ha(d<. 

So  witliout  more  words  we  continued  hattliiiL,'' 
with   the   swift    tide. 

It  seemed  for  a  time  like  working  against  fate, 
l^hil  was  out  of  hreatli,  and  my  desperation,  caused 
hy  the  knowledge  that  failure  meant  death,  was  all 
that  sustained  me. 

We  were  now  at  the  very  mouth  of  the  inlet 
and  (hitting  still  farther.  I  uotictM]  that  a  short 
distance  ahead  the  water  seemed  smoother — almost 
calm.  I  thoug-ht  there  might  he  less  tide  there  and 
easier  swimming.  With  a  few  desperate  strokes  I 
forged  ahead  and  swam  around  the  raft,  clutched 
and  placed  hetween  my  teeth  one  end  of  a  rope 
with  wliieh  the  raft  Avas  lashed  together,  and  made 
a  supreme  effort,  feeling  that  our  lives  depended 
on  it. 


HOLD   ON,"    I    SAID,    "I    CAN    TOW    THE    RAFT." 


WE    GROPE    IN    J)ARKXESS.  135 

Phil  seconded  my  efforts,  wliile  I,  seeing  that 
the  raft  still  drifted  towards  tlie  oeeaii,  ))eeaiue,  as 
it  were,  frenzied,  and  put  out  more  and  more  effort, 
until  at  last  the  raft  moved  towards  the  shore 
without  drifting.  ''  By  George,"  exelaimed  Phil, 
''this  raft  is  drifting  the  other  way!" 

I  soon  saw,  hy  sighting  oljjeets  on  the  shore, 
that  we  had  struek  a  eounter-eurrent  or  eddy, 
and  at  the  same  time  found  that  I  eould  touch 
bottom,  and  that  the  water  was  scarcely  above  my 
waist. 

"  Hold  on,"  I  said ;  "  I  can  tow  the  raft." 

I  heard  Phil  laughing,  and  turning,  indignantly 
said,   ''Where  does  the  laugh  come  in,  Phil?" 

"  Why,"  he  replied  looking  back,  "  here  we  've 
been  swinnning  Avhen  for  the  last  thirty  yards  we 
might  liaA'e  waded." 

So  it  proved ;  with  the  exception  of  a  channel 
alxjut  a  hundred  yards  A\'ide  we  could  have  waded 
most  of  the  way,  but  we  had  been  deceived  as  to 
depth  by  the  dark-colored  bottom. 

After  towing  the  raft  for  a  wliile  we  came  to 
another  narrow  channel  across  which  a  few  strokes 
carried  us. 

We  reached  the  sliore,  and  were  pulling  the 
raft  above  high-water  mark  so  that  we  might  make 
use  of  it  again  if  needed,  when  suddenly  every- 
thing seemed  to  whirl  around  and  turn  over  and 
over.  I  staggered  and  fell :  I  had  fainted  for  the 
first  time  in  my  life. 


180  FMIIER    AdAIXST    SON. 

Wlifii  at  last  T  revived  Phil  was  looking  very 
solter  and  sad. 

"I  am  L^ettiuL;'  to  be  a  ])al>y  —  a  pcrfeet  milk- 
sop. T  1»('lie\f.    IMiililiuster."  I  said. 

'•1  guess  uol,""  said  IMiil  ;  "if  you  hadn't  put 
oil  so  tearingly  foi'  a  spell  when  we  were  out  in 
the  ehaiuiel  we  "d  have  gone  out  to  sea  A\ith  all 
ourclothes  —  you  swam  like  mad:  I  neversawthe 
like  of  it.  It"s  I  that  "s  a  hahy  ^\•hen  it  eonies  to 
a  hard  sjjot,   and   not   you,    Ilez.'" 

(  )ne  thing  surprised  us,  and  that  was  that  on 
looking  around  we  saw  some  of  the  wreckage  of 
the  '•  Fa\drite."'  such  as  tard)arrels  and  other 
things,   far  aliow  high-water  mark. 

"What  geese  we  are,'"  exelainieil  Phil:  "while 
we  've  heen  lying  around  over  yonder  the  wreck- 
ers have  l>een  not  two  miles  from  us  on  this  coast; 
otherwise  how  did  this  stuff  get  above  high-water 
mark  ? "" 

"Yes,"  I  replied,  "l)ut  it  don't  matter  now, 
let's  get  somewhere  ^wliere  I  can  get  a  good  rest; 
I  ne^'er  felt  so  mean  in  my  life.  I  can't  stand 
this  grub  either,  it  makes  me  sick." 

"  Well,  you  are  s(pu'annsh,"  said  Phil,  cramming 
his  mouth  full  of  food;  "this  fried  fisli  is  awful 
g()C)d.  " 

After  this  we  began  our  journey  up  the  coast 
and  had  not  gone  far  when  Phil,  who  was  ahead  of 
me,  ext'lainied,  "Well,  here's  a  go,  llez ;  Me  are 
on  another  island." 


WE    GROPE    IX    DARKNESS.  137 

I  went  to  tlie  top  of  the  sand-hill  \\here  he  stood, 
and  looking  off  said,  ''Sure  enough.  Phil,  hut 
what  is  that  down  there  just  ahove  high-water 
mark?     It  looks  like  a  hoat." 

We  both  started  toward  it.  It  proved  to  be 
the  boat  of  the  "Favorite,"  in  which,  it  will  be 
remembered,  poor  Blarney  had  gone  adrift.  lUit 
we  found  it  to  be  stove  in  at  the  bows  and  without 
oars. 

"  I  hope  Blarney  got  ashore  alive  in  it,"  said 
Phil,  "  l)ut  it  is  n't  at  all  likely,  for  he  was  no 
sailor,  and  he  would  n't  have  stood  much  of  a 
chance  if  he  had  been." 

As  the  island  we  were  on  \^-as  nothing  but  sand 
there  remained  nothing  for  us  to  do  but  to  get 
away  by  swimming. 

At  first  we  debated  whether  we  should  go  back 
to  where  we  started  from  in  the  morning  or  go 
ahead. 

The  island  was  not  over  a  mile  and  a  half  long 
and  we  soon  reached  its  southern  limit,  Phil  carry- 
ing the  door  and  I  the  full  haversaclvS,  and  other 
useful  things.  With  the  exception  of  a  narrow 
channel,  twenty  or  more  feet  wide,  we  were  able  to 
wade  to  the  other  shore,  and  found,  as  Phil  said, 
"  When  one  really  gets  at  a  task  it  never  proves  as 
hard  as  it  looks." 

By  the  time  we  had  reached  the  other  shore  the 
clouds  that  had  for  some  hours  overcast  the  sky 
gathered   increasing   darkness  ;    and  soon   after  a 


138  F.[Tiii:ii  a<;ainst  sox. 

furious  storm  of  rain,  thunder,  and  linlituiuL;'  l)urst 
u|)(»ii  us.  AVe  sta^'u'ered  on  in  the  darkness  in 
lio})es  to  eoine  upon   a  iislu'rnian"s  luU. 

I  was  Ixith  liot  a.ud  eold  :  at  times  tlie  heat  seemed 
uneusbirahlc  and  at  oihrr  times  I  was  sliivcring 
A\-itli  cohh  I  fch  indiffcrt-nt  to  evrrytliinn'.  cxeept 
a  siekenin^'  fecdim^;  lie^inning  in  my  liead  and 
exteiKhiiL;'  all   o\('i-   me. 

\i  last  I  sloppL'd  and  said.  "  Phililntster,  you 
can  j^-o  on,  hut  J  am  siek  and  })layed  out;  I  ean"t 
go  any   farther.'" 

'Jdie  rain  -was  descending  in  torrents  AA'hen  we 
halted  hetween  two  sanddiills,  and  Phil  covered 
and  sheltered  me  as  Ijest  he  could  with  the  eauvas 
and   the   oil   jaeket. 

During  tlu'  night  my  sleep  was  trotd)led,  and  I 
had  frequent  chills  with  fever,  and  fotmd  myself 
continually  trying  to  ex[»lain  to  my  mother  why  I 
wav  so  wet  and  cond'ortless. 

^'  Wake  up,  old  fel".  "'  called  Phil. 

I  threw  off  the  canvas  and  sat  up.  The  stm 
was  shining  :  the  sky  was  once  more  clear.  Phil 
was  standing  on  the  hillock  ahove  me  and  })ointing, 
smiling,  and  saying  something  AA'hich  thotigh  I 
heard  1  could  not  h)r  sonic  time  coni})reliend  :  for  a 
stupor  seemed  to  chain  my  thottghts  and  percep- 
tions. 

'"•What  is  it,  Phil?"  T  said  :  "my  head  aches  so 
I  can't  seem   to   understand  you." 

I  heard  JMiil  say  something  aljoiit  houses  in  sight. 


WE    f.'EOP/'J    IN    DARKXESS.  IP.O 

I  have  1)ut  ail  iudistiiu't  reinembraiico  of  what 
oceuiTod  after  tliat  except  that  1  was  soon  in  a 
room  that  seemed  very  close  and  ill-smelling,  trying 
to  eat  food,  for  Avhicli  I  had  an  nnaccountahh' 
loathing. 

Then  I  remember  a  delicions  feeling  of  being 
between  cool  sheets  and  seeming  to  hear  my  mother's 
voice  saying,  "Sleep,  my  l)oy.  You  will  soon  feel 
better." 

When  I  awoke  the  kindly  face  of  a  young  woman 
greeted  me. 

"Where  am  I?  Where  is  mother — and  Phil?  "  I 
inquired ;  and  then  as  I  dimly  remendjered  how  I 
came  there  I  attempted  to  get  up,  when  it  seemed 
as  if  my  bones  would  drop  asunder,  I  was  so  lame 
and  weak. 

"  Where  's  Phil,  ma'am  ?  "'  I  asked. 

"  He  's  over  yon  in  the  boat  with  my  man,"  she 
replied,  but  as  she  spoke  I  heard  Phil's  voice. 
Then  there  was  a  whispering  outside  of  the  door. 
The  woman  said,  "  Come  in,  he  's  right  peart," 
and  Phil  Avas  at  my  bedside. 

"  I  'm  awful  weak,  Pliilibuster,"  I  said,  "  but  I 
guess  it 's  time  we  were  going,  it  must  be  quite 
late." 

"Don't  you  know,"  said  Phil,  glancing  at  the 
woman,  "  that  you  have  l)een  lying  here  sick  for 
'most  four  weeks,  a  fever  sickness,  as  John  calls 
it?  I  guess  you 're  coming 'round  all  right  now. 
Here,  have  some  clam  soup ;  then  turn  over  and 


140  FATHER    AGAINST    SOX. 

go  to  sleep  again,  and  we  11  have  a  good  talk  l)y 
and  l)y." 

I  yielded  to  the  stronger  will,  turned  over  with 
my  hire  to  the  wall,  studit^l  the  red  tlowers  on  the 
wall  i)a[)er,  and  then  fell  into  a  long,  restful  sluniher. 

When  I  a^\•(lke  Pliil  still  sat  hy  the  Ix'd.  T  yawned 
and  said.  "1  "ve  had  a  nap.  I  hclirve.  AVhat  was 
it  vou  were  saying  ahout  clam  soU})?"" 

••A  nap  I  "'  exelaime<l  Phil,  laughing  :  "  you've 
heen  aslec})  h>r  twelvr  hours  stead v  and  it  has  done 
you  no  end  of  good:  you  don't  look  like  the  same 
person."' 

''Take  down  that  glass  and  let  me  sei%  will 
you?"'  I  said.  I'liil  hesitatctl,  then  said.  ''You 
look  a  little  peake<l  and  thin  yet.  llez,"  and  handed 
me  the  glass. 

I  should  not  have  known  the  thin  })ale  faee  as 
mine. 

I  then  learned  that  1  had  had  what  the  n.atives 
called  a  "erazy  fe\'er.'"  T  had  heen  taken  in  hy 
John  Nixon  and  his  wife,  who  had  giyen  me  their 
own  bed,  and  Mrs.  Nixon  had  heen  nursing  me 
witli  kindly  solicitude  for  weeks,  without  which 
nursing  T  shoidd  doul)tless  have  died.  I  also 
learned  that  we  were  on  that  portion  of  Uatteras 
kno^^•n  as  C'hicamocomieo,  a  village  of  al)out  a 
hundred  families.  The  men  of  the  little  })lace 
were,  as   Phil  said,   "all  fishermen.*" 

"  There  is  one  thing,'"  said  Phil,  "  that  T  don't 
understand,  and  that  is,  that  the    people    around 


WE    a  HOPE    IX    DARKXESS.  141 

here  say  there  were  two  people  besides  you  and  nie 
saved  from  the  ''Favorite."  One  of  them  nuist 
have  been  Bhirney,  but  the  other  said  he  was  a 
North  Carolinian.  Now,  you  know  there  was  no 
one  on  l)oard  from  North  CaroUna,  and  this  man 
was,  so  John  says,  nearly  forty  years  old." 

"  Wliat  kind  of  a  looking  man  was  he,  Phil  ?  "  I 
inquired. 

"•  These  are  nice,  kind-hearted  people,"  said  Phil, 
laughing,  ''but  they  aren't  much  for  description. 
They  can  say  '  howdy,*  and  chew  snuff  in  an}'  kind 
of  foreign  language,  but  wdien  it  comes  to  telling 
anything  about  people  they  can't  tell  how  they 
look,  so  I  can  understand  them.  Jane  says  he  was 
right  peart  and  powerful  pleasant  like,  and  that  Ids 
hair  was  dark  snuff  colored,  and  that  he  toted  off 
to  Fort  Hatteras." 

"  There  is  one  way  to  account  for  the  man,"  I 
said,  "  and  that  is  he  lied  to  these  folks."  And 
with  this  we  dropped  the  subject,  until  montlis 
afterwards  it  came  up  in  another  shape. 

"  Where  is  Fort  Hatteras  ?  "  I  asked,  shortly 
after  this  conversation. 

"  Fort  Hatteras  ?  "  said  Phil.  "  Well,  the  rebels 
have  had  a  lot  of  darkies  building  it  and  another 
fort  called  Fort  Clark  'most  all  summer  down  at 
Hatteras  Inlet.  They  Ve  got  some  big  guns  there, 
so  John  says.  They  are  the  guns  we  heard  down 
on  that  island,  I  guess. 

"  One  reason  we  did  n't  see  more  people  while  we 


142  FA-niER    AC;  MX  ST    SOX. 

were  tlicvc  ^\';is  tlmt  tlicy  wciv  just  tlicn  Imsy  kcop- 
iiiL;-  out  (if  ilic  \\;i\-  (if  tlic  cdnscriptidU  (iriiccr.  Tlic 
people  liere  li;i\'e  been  L;i\'iiiL;'  nioi-e  atleutiou  to 
keepiuL;'  out  of  si^lit  than  llie\-  have  to  N'isiiinL;'  or 
\\i-eel<iiiL;-.  A  ( 'oufederate  ol'lieer  and  a  lot  of  uieii 
Avei-e  lieic  this  weeK.  and  Jane  took  them  up  to 
see  \du  :  made  tliem  lielie\('  \'ou  \\"ere  .lohn  and 
needed  medicines  ;  hilled  1  wo  liii'ds  with  one  stone  : 
fof    the  ollieel'    Sent   Up  some   (plildlie    iVoUl  the   folt, 

and  thinkiuL;'  John  A\as  sieh\  hasn't  lieeii  looking 
foi'  liim  since.      W^asn't    that   a    joke?" 

In  two  weeks"  time  I  was  alile  to  get  out  in 
the  lioat  with  John,  ^\'ho  pi-o\-e(l  to  lie  a  good- 
natured  giant.  He  had  taken  a  great  notion  to 
Pliil ;  and,  tliougli  not  a  great  talker,  was  sensiljle 
and   shrewd. 

r  lieu'an  at  once  talkduL!'  to  John  aliont  cettinsf 
away.  lie  would  say  latt  little  exee[it  that  lie 
did  n't  think  it  was  liest  for  us  to  lie  too  })eart  alxiut 
getting  to  I'^ort  Ilatteras.  A  few  days  after  this 
he  said  he  had  seen  a  strange  schooner  in  tlie 
SoTind  wliieli  he  reckoned  was  a  Yaidcee  schooner 
tliat  had  put  in  through  one  of  the  upper  iidets 
for  fear  of  a  storm.  That  she  had  that  moi'idng 
signaled  for  a  }>ilot,  and  he  thought  he  ^\"(luld  go 
ahoard  and  see  what  kind  of  peo}ile  was  on   her. 

I  was  not  only  anxious  to  he  going,  hut  ftdt  that 
we  had  liunh^ned  these  good  people  too  much 
ah'eady. 

"When  T  said  as  much  to   John  and  his  wife  they 


WE    GROPE    IX    DARKXESS.  143 

l)oth  deelaivd  that  we  were  in>  trouLle,  and  that 
they  had  had  nothing  Init  good  lucdv  ever  since 
they  took  us  in.  They  considered  us  sort  of  mas- 
cots that  had  hrought  them  protection. 

Finally  John  said  Phil  could  go  off  to  the 
schooner  with  him,  and  if  lie  liked  the  looks  we 
could  make  a  l)argain  with  the  captain.  It  was 
agreed  by  us  all  that  that  would  he  better  than 
trustinef  to  the  Confederates. 


14^  FATHER    AGAINST    SOX. 


CUXPTFAl    XITI. 

WE    LEAVE    ClllCAMACoMiro. 

That  dav,  wliilc  Pliil  and  Jolni  wciv  off  in  the 
boat  on  tlu'  rn'aiid  HUMitioiU'(l  in  tlic  [»receding 
cliaptrr.  and  I  A\'as  in  tlir  kitclicn  licdping  Jane 
mend  some  lisliin^'-iu'ts.  we  licard  a  }»eculiar  call 
outside.     Jane  started   np,  saying: 

''The  men  at  tlie  forts  are  eoniinn':  get  over  von 
in  the  Iteacdi  grass,  and  stay  away  till  you  See  the 
net  hung  up  hack  of  the  house."' 

I  did  not  wait  to  question,  hut  startech 

Before  this  I  had  known  that  there  was  a  system 
of  signals  in  use  among  the  villagers  to  give  warn- 
ing to  one  aritither.  In  all  the  houses  the  women, 
and  even  tlie  ehihhen,  were  on  the  lookout,  so 
it  wordd  have  hi'en  almost  impossible  for  any 
stranger  or  enemy  to  ap[)roa(di  the  place  without 
uiaking  his  presence  known,  and  giving  all  persons 
wh(^  wished  to  conceal  themselves  an  opportunity 
to  (h)  so. 

J  was  (piickly  hidden  l>ehind  the  sanddiills,  where 
none  could  a[)proach  without  my  seeing  them  or 
receiving  warning. 

Not  five  minutes  after  I  left  I  saw  a  party  of 
men  at  the  house,  and  then  after  some  twenty 
minutes  had  elapsed,  as  if  they  were  satisfied  that 


WE    Ll'AVE    CHICAMACOMICO.  145 

tliere  were  no  men  there  whom  the}'  could  con- 
script, they  took  their  departure. 

I  waited,  expecting  to  see  tlie  signal  displayed, 
but  it  did  not  appear. 

^Vfter  a  time  I  oljserved  two  of  the  neighl)ors' 
hoys  gradually  drawing  near  to  me  while  pla}-ing 
around  the  sand-hills.  I  thought  nothing  of  it  until 
they  came  within  a  few  feet  of  where  I  was  lying, 
when  I  began  to  comprehend  that  they  were  sent 
to  communicate  with  me. 

Without  turning  his  face  towards  me  one  of 
them  said,  "  Missus  says  you  must  n't  come  to  the 
house  to-night,"  and  then  carelessly,  while  playing, 
they  made  tlieir  way  back. 

It  was  at  ten  o'clock  at  night,  or  later,  when  I 
saw  a  light  in  the  back  window.  This  was  a  sig- 
nal that  John  and  Phil  had  been  at  home.  In  an- 
other moment  Phil  was  with  me. 

"  The  conscription  gang  are  scattered  all  through 
the  village,  laying  for  the  men  to  come  home  from 
fishing,  but  they  '11  wait  till  they  are  old  and  gray 
before  they  catch  'era,"  said  Phil  in  a  suppressed 
tone,  accompanied  by  a  chuckle  of  amusement. 

"  I  'm  afraid  they  may  catch  John,  or  seize  his 
boat,"  I  said. 

"  John  is  not  to  be  caught  napping,"  said  Phil ; 
"  before  we  got  ashore  he  seemed  to  suspect  trouble 
at  home,  for  he  suddenly  determined  to  anchor  his 
boat  and  go  ashore  in  his  dory  at  some  other  than 
his  usual  lauding.     Then  we  got  word  that  they 


140 


FA  Til  El!    AC'AIXST    SON. 


were  hiyiiio'  for  liini  tlici'e.  lie  is  at  tlie  shore 
waiting'  tor  us  now.  He  says  kee})  a  sliar})  look- 
out   and   not    1m'   seen."' 

We  wt'iit  to  tlie  |ilaee  wliere  lie  had  a^'i'eed  to 
meet  us.  and  \\(.'i-e  soon  on  Ixiard  of  liis  hoat.  ( )n 
our  arrixal  .lolin  L;ot  up  sail  at  once  and  stood  (»tit 
into  tlie  Sound,  so  liiat  he  niiylit  l)e  in  the  vieinitv 
of  the  siliooiici'  and  at  the  same  time  kee}i  at  a  re- 
s[i('ctfid  distance  fi'oni  the  p'aiig  in  the  town.  I 
now  learned  tliat  Jolin  and  Phil  had  not  l)een  on 
lioai'd  of  tlie  schooner,  hill  had  talked  to  one  of  the 
lisheriiii'ii  who  had.  lie  told  them  that  it  was,  as 
.lohn  had  thought,  a  "^  aiikee  ci'afl.  whiidj,  not 
know  iuL;  thai  the  State  had  seceded,  had  come  in 
hii'  a    liarhor. 

It  was  neai'h-  suni'ise  when  we  discovered  the 
schooner  well  otl'  in  the  hay.  and  it  was  ten  o'clock 
wdien  wi'  came  near  eiiouii'li  to  hail  her. 

In  answer  lo  our  hail  there  came  an  evasive  re- 
ply, and  an  iindtation  to  come  on  hoard  if  we 
wanti'd  any  inh)rmation.  We  were  soon  along- 
side, and   Phil  and  I  (dimhed  on  deed-:. 

An  elderh'  man  stood  at  the  tiller  with  his  feet 
wide  ajiart.  giving  at  times  sharp  orders  to  the  only 
hand  on  deck  hesides  himself.  Without  changing 
his  position  he  cast  a  serutiiuzing  glance  at  John 
in   the   hoat.   then   at   Pliil   and  me. 

"Well,""  he  said  tons,  "spit  it  out;  wdiat  is  it?" 
Then  to  John  he  said,  "What's  the  matter?  Avhy 
don't  you  come  al)oard?" 


WE    LEA  VI-:    CIIICAMACOMICO.  147 

We  ex})lainL'(l  to  liim  that  we  had  Ix^'eii  east 
aAvay  and  Avanted  to  get  home,  and  if  lie  Mas  L^'oing 
to  a  Xoi'tliern  port  Ave  hoped  to  get  a  passage  with 
him. 

"Xo  [)Ia('e  for  huid-lultbers,  1)ut  if  voii  can  reef 
and  steer"  —  and  here  he  gave  ns  another  searching 
glance,  and  then  added,  ''  We  are  shortdianded,  or 
we  would  n't  he  in  Pandico  SoiukL"  Then,  see- 
ing that  John  was  about  to  east  off  his  painter,  he 
added.  "  Come  aboard  and  ]»ilot  me  out  of  the  u})- 
per  inlets,  and  I  "11  give  tliese  l)oys  a  passage  ; 
they  "11  ha\e  to  work,  though:  and  I'll  give  //o» 
ten  silver  dollars   to  pilot  me  out  of  here." 

John  eame  on  board  at  once,  saying  to  the  cap- 
tain, "  I  '11  do  my  best,  but  I  can't  say  Ijut  the 
Hatteras  Inlet  folks  ain't  right  peart  after  yon 
11  ns." 

'•'  I  understand,"  said  the  captain,  "  but  if  you 
know  the  upper  inlets  we  may  get  the  '  Pliilena ' 
throirgh  to-night.  I  'm  just  from  the  West  In- 
dies ;  got  fruit  and  perishable  stuff  al)oard,  and 
've  got  to  git  to  N'  York  or  the  cargo  '11  be  sp'iled. 
I  come  through  the  inlet  by  them  forts  in  the 
night,  but  the  thing  now  is  how  to  git  back." 

"  What  made  you  put  in  here  ?  "  incjuired  Phil. 

''  Short-handed  and  did  n't  like  the  looks  o'  the 
sky;  likely  to  have  a  storm  'fore  I  can  make  N' 
York.  An'  then,"  continued  the  old  captain  in  his 
thunderous  bass  tones  that  seemed  to  make  the  air 
vibrate,  -'  I  did  n't  know  this  State  had  gone  crazy 


148  FA 'III I -n    A'.JIXST    SOX. 

till  some  of  \u\iv  lisliennm  told  uu'.  1  knew  that 
South  ('"i-"liii\'  had  l;'oiil'  s<irt  o"  wild  —  rariie(l  that 
'fore  I  left  N"  Viirk.  I  s'poSL-d  the  tar-heels  *d  stiek 
to   the  ruidii  I  "" 

And  the  eaittain  lanL;he(l  a  (hH'p  vihrani  lan^h  at 
his  (iw'ii  joke,  ^\hieh  at  the  same  time  L;'a\e  nie  a 
H'ood  (i[iiiii()n  (if  him. 

There  \\-;is  aliiKist  a  dead  calm  at  eleven  o'eloek, 
the  wind  ha\inL;'  i^oiie  down  sinee  we  eaiiie  ahoard, 
and  thei'cfoi-e,  though  headed  towards  Alhemarle 
Sonnd,  the  sehooiiei'  ]a\'  near  where  we  had  em- 
l)arked.  At  noon  the  wind  freshened,  but  it  was 
dead  ahead. 

"I  am  afraid  we've  hrou^ht  had  luck  ahoard." 
said  JMiil  to  nie  in  a  low  tone,  while  I  was  tending 
sheets  and  the  sehooner  was  slowly  heating-  up  the 
Souiuh 

'' I)on"t  he  an  old  woman."  growled  Captain 
Uangs  (this  Ave  had  learned  was  the  name  of  the 
ea})tain  ),  who  had  overheard  the  remark,  "there's 
no  sueh  thing  as  luek  :  we  are  hemnuMl  in  here  "eause 
we  didn't  know  the  tar  heels  was  out  o'  the  Union. 
The  wind 's  ahead 'eause  it  hlows  fi'om  the  direc- 
tion we  want  to  g-o.  Lucdv  hain't  got  the  least  l)it 
to  do  Avith  it,  my  hoy.  Call  it  eircumstanees  an' 
head  A\ind."  .Vnd  the  old  eaptain  spat  over  the 
rail,  and  then  looked  up  at  the  trim  of  his 
sails. 

At  sundown  it  eame  on  ealm  again,  hut  we  had 
managed    meanwhile    to    get   the    schooner    under 


n7i    LEAVE    rillCAMACOMlCO.  14!» 

cover  of  the  land,  where  .she  was  not  likely  to  l)e 
ohserved. 

It  was  my  watch  on  deck.  The  air  was  still  with 
jnst  a  hint  of  a  rising  l)reeze  rippling  the  watei'. 
In  the  east  there  was  a  faint  flnsh  wliich  betokened 
the  approach  of  day.  Except  the  measured  cadence 
of  the  surf  not  a  sound  ])roke  the  silence. 

I  was  thinking  of  home,  and  of  the  many  advent- 
ures and  hardships  I  liad  encountered  since  I  left 
my  dear  mother  for  the  uncertain  perils  of  the  sea. 
I  was  in  a  deep  revery  when  a  faint,  sharp  sound 
broke  the  stillness.  I  listened  intently,  and  then 
again  heard  a  measured  sound  like  the  distant  click 
•  of  oars.  I  rushed  to  the  companionway  and  called 
to  the  captain. 

Captain  Bangs  came  on  deck  saying : 

-  What  is  it  ?  " 

''  I  hear  the  sound  of  oars,"  I  said. 

He  listened  for  some  time,  and  then  said,  ^  I  hear 
something.  I  guess  your  ears  are  better  'n  mine, 
but  it  may  be  the  fishermen  goin'  out  in  their 
boats,"  and  then  called  out,  '■'•  All  hands  on 
deck  here !  " 

When  John  came  on  deck  he  listened,  and  re- 
plied to  an  inquiry  from  the  captain,  "  No,  cap,  I 
reckon  there  's  more  'n  two  pair  o'  oars  a-board  that 
boat',  an'  the  stroke  o"  our  folks  is  diff'rent." 

We  were  soon  under  way,  standing  off  into  the 
Sound.  John  had  taken  the  tiller,  wdiile  the  cap- 
tain was  looldng'  throuadi  his  giass. 


ir)0 


FAIlli:!!     .\(.AL\ST    SOX. 


''Here  tliey  cdiuc.""  he  exclaimed,  ''jist  "roniid 
tliat  pMiit.  It  "s  a  liiill  Ixiat  fill  (•"  men.""  And  tlie 
cajitaiii  laid  down  his  L;lass  and  lie^'aii  tn  ,L;'i\'e  tirders, 
and  at  the  same  time  .issisled  in  their  exeentioii. 

'Idle  Itl'ee/.e  lie^ali  lo  eoiiie  in  little  jiilt't's  :  the 
sehdoliel'  answered  to  the  hreeze.  the  watel'  l'i|»]tle«l 
at  hei-  liow's.  and  the  sails  di'ew"  tauter  on  the 
sheets. 

••  Wdiat  d"  V''  think,  sii'.""  said  the  eaptain  to 
Xixoii:  "ai'e  we  ereepin     \\"a\    Irom    em? 

Nixon  shook  his  heath 

••  I  "d  make  no  hones  o"  h^htin'  "em,""  said  the 
captain,  "it'  I  had  powdci'  an  shot  fer  that  ol" 
s\\i\el  up  there  lor"ard  :  "t  ain"t  much  of  a  ,L;'nii.  hut 
when  I  was  cap"n  of  a  ship  in  the  ( 'hiny  seas  I 
stood  off  a  lot  o"  pirates  a  hull  da\.  an"  L^ot  away 
in  the  ni^'ht  :  had  a  Ljood  sharp  hL^ht  :  an"  I 
wouldn't  nnnd  L;'i\"in"  these  htlks  somethin"  to 
i'ememl)er  luv  hy."" 

And  the  old  fellow  looked  as  if  he  would  enjoy 
such  a  privileL;-e. 

••  W^et  down  the  sails  there,  all  hands  I  "'  shouted 
the  captain:  "there  comes  a  little  more  Ijreeze  : 
there,  that  "s  hi-tter.  ^'is.  I  \-ow,  we  "re  leavin"  the 
lulihers  astarn."" 

After  a  fe\\'  moments  it  was  evident  tju  all  on 
hoard  that  the  ea[»tain  was  ri^ht,  and  that  the  l)oa; 
was  falling  behind  in  the  lace. 

In  an  hour's  tijiie  the  1)oat  was  no  longer  insight, 
and  the    ea[)taiu,    who    had    been    intently    gazing 


WE    LI:A  VE    CUI(\  IMACoMI r ().  1  ."■)  1 

tlii'dUi^h  liis  L;-lass,  shut  it  up  with  a  sati.slied  ymiit, 
ext'IainiiuL!,' : 

•"Well,  we  've  sliowed  Vui  our  heels,  but  they'd 
had  us  if  it  hadn't  l)e'n  fer  the  boy.  So  you  see, 
youngster,""  said  the  eaptain  to  nie,  "  you  lu'ought 
good  hiek  if  you  In'ought  any  kind  of  hick  a1)oar(h 
If  you  "d  be"n  a-na[»[)i)r  them  fellers  'd  ketehed  us."" 

We  had  a  good  breeze  all  day.  We  neared 
the  iidet  through  whieli  John  thought  it  best  to 
make  a  passage,  and  as  it  Avas  conung  on  dark,  the 
eaptain,  on  John's  representation  that  he  needed  a 
little  daylight  to  pilot  the  schooner  through,  hove  to 
under  tlie  land  "so  as  not  to  be  caught  napping.'" 

At  dayliglit  we  made  f<n-  the  inlet.  The  breeze 
was  good,  and  everything  seemed  to  be  progressing 
favorably,  when,  just  as  we  neared  the  inlet,  a 
little  steam  craft  was  seen  poking  her  nose  out 
from  l)ehind  the  land. 

Ca[)tain  Bangs  ordered  the  schooner  about  on 
the  other  tack  with  the  intention  of  getting  away, 
saying,  "  P'r"aps  we  can  show  "em  a  trick  yit."" 
But  even  as  he  spoke  a  dense  smoke  began  to  pour 
out  of  the  steamer's  smoke-stack,  and  in  another 
moment  she  was  in  full  pursuit  and  gaining  on  tlie 
'^  Philena."  I  saw  a  smoke  and  a  flash,  and  then 
heard  the  roar  of  a  gun,  and  a  shot  came  skipping 
the  water  across  our  bows. 

'^'T  ain't  no  use,"  said  the  captain,  "steam beats 
sail  every  day  ;  guess  we  "d  better  act  friendly." 
And  with  this  he  ordered  the  schooner  put  about. 


\'>-2  FATiniR    AC  MX  ST    SnX. 

In  a  U'W  nioiiiciits  tilt'  "("otloii  riant,"  such 
was  her  iiaiiK'.  was  alongside  and  licrnit'ii  swarmed 
oil  llic  sflidiinci' s  dcc]<.s,  takini;'  possi'ssion  in  tlic 
name  of  llic  (  oidcilcratc  States.  We  wei'e  ordei'e(l 
oil  l)oard  the  "('ottoii  Plant."'  wliicli  was  at  onee 
headtMl    toi'    Ilattcras    lid(4. 

In  the  afti'niooii  we  were  land('(l  at  the  inlet,  and 
soon  alter  coiidiictiMl  to  the  ol'licc  of  the  naval  coni- 
iiiaiidaiil.  (  'aptain   IJari'on. 

lie  i('cci\('(l  us  with  cliilliu^ciNilitv  :  anyone 
could  sec  that  he  lia<l  the  lialtit  and  inaniici-  ol 
coiiimaiid. 

'' Where  docs  yoiii'  vesstd  hail  from,  captain?'' 
he  dciiiaudcd. 

'•  l*'ronitlie  West  Indies. ""  reitlled  Captain  Bang's, 
"loadccl  with  fruit  an"  produce  —  perishable;  sail 
from  X"  York,  soinetimcs  from  lioston."" 

•'A  native  of  New  York?"  impiired  ('a|»tain 
r>arrou. 

••No,  sir,  a  ('a])e  ('odder.  l)Ut  "ve  sailed  out  o" 
them  poi'ts  all  m\  life,  ever  seiice  I  was  ten  year 
old.  I>e"n  four  times  "round  the  world:  l>e"n  feii'n 
v'y"(_.X's  all  mv  life  :  ^ds,  capn  of  a  shi[)  f"r  near 
tliirtv  vear.  Then  I  thoUL;'ht  Fd  settle  down  "t 
hum:  then  I  had  a  kind  "f  a-hankerin"  for  the  salt 
water  "s^'in.  I  see  you  "re  a  sailor  an'  know  how  "t  is. 
Then  I  put  most  o"  mv  money  in  this  little  craft: 
thouyhi  I  "d  'muse  myself  eoastin".  C'apt'n,  slu'  "s 
a  little  craft,  won't  do  you  no  good,  an'  senee  I  ain"t 
no  designs   "g'inst  the  SoittherJi  folks  p'r'aps  y  '11 


WE    LEAVE    ClIICAMACOMICO.  153 

let  me  an"  my  schooner  go.  Y'  ar'  welcome  to  the 
cargo  ;  that  "s  fair." 

Captain  Barron  smiled  as  he  replied  :  "  Personally 
I  should  like  to  oblige  you  :  l)ut  we  are  at  war 
with  the  United  States,  and  yonr  vessel  is  a  prize, 
and  you  are  a  prisoner  of  the  Confederacy." 

"But,"  said  Captain  Bangs,  "you  b'long  to 
th  'nited  States,  don't  ye  ?  them  are  the  buttons  'f 
our  common  country  you  *ve  got  on  y'r  coat ; 
\xcuse  me  if  I  offend,  Ijut  I  don't  understand 
things." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  officer  haughtily,  "  I  am  an 
officer  of  the  Confederacy  and  owe  no  allegiance 
to  the  old  government ;  "  and  then  in  an  insinuat- 
ing and  pleasanter  tone  he  said,  "■  Perhaps  we 
can  arrange  it,  captain,  so  that  you  can  still  com- 
mand your  vessel ;  we  should  be  glad  to  give  you 
employment  in  our  way  ;  the  Confederacy  needs 
good  seamen.  It  would  l)e  preferable,  would  it 
not,  to  still  command  your  own  craft  to  being  a 
prisoner  of  war?  I  can  promise  you  letters  of 
marque  from  our  president." 

"'To  do  what?"  asked  the  captain,  knitting  his 
brow,  as  if  he  were  trying  to  comprehend  the  prop- 
osition. 

"  Why,  to  capture  Yankee  vessels  ;  there  will 
be  some  good  pickings,  and  you  will  soon  get 
rich." 

"  An'  be  hung  for  piracy,  as  I  sh'd  desarve,  an' 
as  every  one  does   that  raises   liis  hand   'g'iust  the 


l-")4  FATHER    ACMXsr    SOX. 

lliiL;'  tliat  "s  |»r(»tLM'ti'(l  liiiii.  an"  that  lie  ">  sailcil 
under.  X().  sir!  IM  lie  sunk  in  tlu- •  Philfiia  "  lirst 
an'  l)f  ilaiuiit'd  to  all  li-aitors  and  tui'Ucdats  !  " 

Tlu'rc  was  a  look  of  la^'f  on  the  ot'iit'cr's  face, 
"wliicli  the  ca^jtain  [)('i'cci\in^'  said,  "  Ioxciim'  nic  sir. 
1  "in  a  little  heate(l,  hut  1  mean  no  disi'espeet  to 
you.  Wdiv.  I  "\'e  sailed  undei'  that  tlai;'  when  you 
was  in  \'our  el'adle.  I  "\'e  he'll  L;lad  to  he  [iroteeted. 
an"  })roud.  sir.  to  stan"  under  it.  an"  feel  that  it  was 
ni\'  tlai;'.  the  fla^'  o"  free  Americans,  that  our  fathers 
fought  for  an"  die(l  foi' :  ni\-  hither  f(iUL;'ht  with 
Decatur,  ^rn"  hdl  deinl  on  the  de<dv'  of  his  shiji. 
l''r"a[is  you  hain"t  felt  "s  1  hev"  all  m"  life,  that  ye 
owed  duty  to  it  with  y"r  life?"" 

riiei'c  was  a  look  passiuL;'  over  the  face  of  the 
ConhMlerate  whi(di  1  could  not  inter[iret.  Per- 
haps he  was  reminded  of  the  time  when  he  swore 
allegiance  to  that  Hag.  There  was  a  trouhled  look 
on  las  face.  —  a  look  of  mingled  pain  and,  sorrow",  as 
if  every  word  of  the  old  sailor  had  cut  like  a  knife  : 
for  lie  had  heen.  l)ut  a  few  weeks  l)ef()re.  an  officer 
of  the  I  nited  States  Navy,  liokling  its  contldenee, 
as  well  as  a  })osition  tif  trust,  which  he  had  hetia\"e(l 
and  foresworn. 

With  a  wliite  face,  almost  with  a  gasp.  heturiie<l 
to  the  saih)r  and  said.  "I  (h)  understand,  sir." 
and   then   titrning   to    an   officer    he     said: 

••  'I'ake  this  old  man  away  :  see  that  he  is  treated 
kindly  and  respectfully."' 

A  glance  passed   between   Phil   and   me.   and  I 


WE    LEAVF.     ClUrAMACOMICO.  l-").") 

kncAV  that  lie  wanted  me  to  \)v  spokesman,  and  I 
also  knew  that  he   thouo-jit  it  best  to  say  l)nt  little. 

"How  came  _yon  on  hoard  of  the  sehooner'.'' " 
mquired  C'a[)tain  Barron. 

"  Shipwrecked,"  I  replied,  "  and  were  taken  on 
board  by  Captain  IJangs,  who  offered  to  take  ns  to 
New  York.  This  other  boy  the  same,""  I  added, 
indicating  Pliil  with  my  hand. 

No  more  qnestions  were  asked  us,  and  Phil  and 
I  and  Nixon  were  marched  throngh  the  sand,  to 
the  guard  quarters,  just  outside  of  Fort  Clark. 


loli 


FATl/i:i:     AdAlXST     SON. 


CUAVTVAl    XTY 


J.EA\1N(;     DIXIE. 


Tin-;  two  tnrls  Ijiiill  on  \\\c  sandy  beach  of  llat- 
tci'as  were  as  \ct  milinislicd.  Most  of  the  n'uns 
WTi-c,  liowTNcr,  ill  iiosilioii.  ilic  |M>\\(lt'r  magazines 
CDnstnictrd.  and  tlir  Iminl)  jH'uols.  tlioUL;li  tliry 
were  al'lcrward  sliowii  to  lie  uns(.'r\iecal)l(',  wei'e 
(■onsi(lfrt'(l    linislicd. 

'riit'i'c  wci-c  about  sc\t'n  liundrtMJ  nu-n  on  <luty  in 
and  around  tlic  forts,  wliile  a  lai'L;'*'  nund)ci'  of 
negroes  still  lal)orcd  on  tlicni  undci'  the  direction 
of  a  ^I'aduate  of  West    I'oint. 

A  nund)er  of  I'lule  buildings,  whicli  lia<l  been 
built  for  the  aeconnnodation  of  the  soldiers,  clus- 
ti'red  around  these  h)rts  or  earth-works.  The 
youuy  non-coiuniissioned  ollieer  \\'ho  had  us  in 
charge    said  : 

"Captain  l>arr(.)n  lielongs  to  the  na\'y.  and  was 
some  cut  U[),  I  reckon,  by  wliat  your  old  cap'n  said. 
W'liw  he  played,  so  they  say,  a  ^'ankee  tri(d<  at 
Washington:  he  almost  got  iharge  of  the  whole 
dog-goned  Yankee  na\y  when  that  old  Alie  sto[)j)ed 
it;  we  shonld  *ave  had  a  l)etter  lot  o'  ships  if  it 
had  ii"t  been  for  that." 

This  last  ol)seivation  was  said  in  the  tune  of  one 
who  is  aggrieved  over  unfair  nsage. 


LEA  VI NG    DIXIE.  157 

"What  are  tlieso  forts  for'/""  T  inquired,  for  I 
couldn't  see  any  use  in  defending  a  sand-l)ar. 

''  Well,""  said,  he  '•  I  reckon  the  Yankee  ships 
can  t  come  over  the  sand  l)each,  an"  there  ain"t 
water  "nougli  for  "em  to  git  through  over  yon," 
indicating  the  northern  inlets,  "an"  they  ean"t  come 
through  h"yer  ;  if  they  try  it  we  '11  blow  "em  out  o' 
th"  water.'" 

That  my  young  readers  may  Ijetter  comprehend 
the  situation  and  the  purpose  of  these  forts,  I  will 
recite  a  few  facts  which  Phil  and  I  did  not  then 
know,  and  which,  in  })art,  may  he  unfamiliar  to  the 
reader. 

When  tlie  news  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Sumter 
by  the  South  Carolinians  was  flashed  over  the 
country,  President  Lincoln  at  once  called  an  extra 
session  of  Congress,  to  meet  on  July  4, 1861,  and 
also  issued  a  call  for  seventy-five  thousand  vol- 
unteers to  maintain  the  laws,  and  to  restore  the 
supremacy   of  ivTational  rule. 

These  acts  of  the  chief  executive  were  hailed 
at  the  North  with  an  outburst  of  patriotism  with  a 
unanimity  which  never  abated  in  its  enthusiasm, 
and  before  which  party  lines  were  practically  o1)lit- 
erated;  and  the  peo})le  rushed  to  arms  to  sustain 
the  central  government. 

(_)n  the  r)ther  hand  the  governors  of  the  slave 
States  utterly  refused  to  cooperate  in  the  Xational 
defence ;  while  the  secessionists  among  the  people, 
availing  themselves  of  the  call  of  Mr.  Lincoln  for 


1 .')  8  FA  Til  /■;  /.'    ACM  XS  T    S  ON. 

volniitt't'i's,  iiiiidc  a  last  ct'lni't  to  t'orcc  \\\v  States  into 
rt'lx'llion,  under  the  [)retext  that  tlils  eall  of  tlie 
I^'edei'al  i;(>veniinenl  liad  ni\ade(l  their  I'iylits  as 
s(i\('i-eiL;'ii    States. 

I'lider  tliesc  iiiflueiices  one  State  after  anotlier 
iiad  seceded  iVoiii  the  ruioli.  and  tiuallv  the  ( 'oli- 
h'derae\".  witJi  .lelTel'Sdli  l)a\is  at  its  liead.  issued 
letters  ol'  inari|Ue.  and  in\ited  the  I'ehel  Slates  Id 
lit  out  pri\'aleei's  Uw  tlie  eajitui'e  or  destrutdiou  of 
the  nieridiant  \essels  of  tlie  North. 

On  the  lUth  of  April.  ISCi,  Mi-.  Lincoln  issued 
a  jiroclaniatiou  declai-in^'  a  hhxdvade  on  all  the  coast 
from  South  ('arolina  to  'I'exas.  and  on  the  2lHli, 
N'ir^iiua  ha\  in^'  alread\'  seceded,  and  the  secession 
of  North  ('arolina  heiiiL;-  inniiineiit.  he  extended 
the  hhxdvade  to  the  coast  of  those  States.  Uut 
to  t'stahlish  an  etfectixe  l)]o(d-;ade  fi'oni  Mexico  to 
the  I'otoniac.  ui-ar  Wadiin^'ton.  was  an  innnense 
undeitakin<4-. 

To  understand  the  value  of  llatteras  Inlet  in 
eonueetion  with  this  lihxdvade,  as  \v(dl  as  froni  a 
military  standpoint,  take  tlie  maps  of  Xortli  Caro- 
lina and  Virginia,  and  you  will  ol)serve  on  them  a 
tang'led  network  of  internal  na\'iL;'al)le  watei's  pro- 
tected l>v  a  long'  harrier  of  narrow  sand  islands 
(()f  which  llatteras  heacli,  where  the  "  Favorite  " 
had  lieen  wrecked,  forms  tlie  greater  part)  extend- 
ing from  Curricut  Sound,  near  Norfolk.  A^a.,  to 
l)elow  Ueaufort,  S.C. 

'I'lirou'''h  these  sand  harriers  there  are,  as  I  have 


LEAVING    DIXIE.  159 

already  instanced,  nnmerons  channels  or  iidets, 
where  vessels  of  lin'ht  draft  can  pass  to  coinnui- 
nicate  with  the  vast  inland  country,  and  through 
which  blockaders  could  not  follow  on  account  of 
shallow  water,  v>'\n\e  the  pi'incipal  or  main  chan- 
nels were  guarded  by  the  forts  at  Ilatteras  Inlet. 
Once  safe  within  tliese  waters  the  rebel,  foreign,  or 
native  trader  had  the  whole  countr}'  o[)en  to  his 
operations. 

The  English  traders  and  slii[)l)uilders,  if  not  the 
English  government,  seemed  to  have  been  care- 
fully posted,  before  the  war  began,  as  to  all  the 
advantages  of  onr  coast  line  to  l)lockade  runners, 
and  also  as  to  the  premeditated  rebellion,  for  the 
ink  on  the  proclamation  declaring  tlie  rebels  bel- 
ligerents was  not  dry  before  they  began  to  lit  out 
at  their  ship-yards  privateers  exactly  fitted  to 
thread  these  shallow  inlets.  In  this  manner  the 
insurgents  were  able  to  receive  munitions  of  w^ar 
and  English    goods  in  exchange  for  their  cotton. 

For  a  time  the  Confederacy  was  virtually  a 
province  of   Great  Britain. 

Two  of  the  most  important  points  for  this  inland 
traffic  were  Pamlico  and  Albemarle  Sounds. 

Neither  Phil  nor  I  comprehended  at  that  time 
the  importance  of  the  forts  at  Hatteras,  and  I  have 
given  these  details  so  that  boys  who  read  this  nar- 
rative may  comprehend  the  part  this  position  played 
in  the  affairs  of  the  war. 

After  our  interview  with  Captain  Barron,  Phil, 


1<;0  FATHER    AdAINST    SON. 

(':i]it;iiii  IJaii^s.  Xixoii,  and  I  were  all  coiitiiied  in 
a  small  Iniildiui;-  used  for  ^auird  (|Uarlcrs.  ( )ur 
food  was  \'('ry  Ljood  and  our  Irt'atuit'nt  fair,  and 
after  about  a  Wfek  we  were  alloWLMJ  conipai'ative 
liberty,  after  si^'uiiii;'  a  [)arole  of  honor  not  to 
H'o  l)e\-ond  certain  limits.  l/nder  this  arranL;'e- 
ment  -lohii  was  allowx'd  To  ljo  liome,  only  Iteini;' 
i'e(]uire(l  to  rejioit  to  the  commandant  (jiiee  each 
\\eek. 

At  tirst  I  was  veiy  much  interested  in  my  new 
surroundings.  I  thon^ht.  as  IMiil  said.  "  It  will  l)e 
something'  to  talk  aliont  if  we  evei'  ^'et  home."" 

Thus  I  was  \'er\'  ol)ser\  ant  and  curious  re^'arding 
the  forts.  The  iid'ormation  I  gained  was  after- 
wards  of  advantage   to   wxc. 

IIo^\e^■er,  I  soon  tii'ed  of  llatteras.  and  eliafed 
over  our  forced  detention  from  liome  and  friends. 
I  became  tired  too  of  tlie  never-ceasing  sound  of 
the  surf  and  the  unending  calm  of  the  water  in 
Pandico  SouiKh  as  A\ell  as  of  the  al)surd  brag  of 
the  Southern  soldiers  of  wdiat  they  intended  to  do 
witli  the  Yankees  if  they  came  to  llatteras. 

"  I  want  to  get  away  from  here,  Philibuster,""  1 
said  one  (hiy  :   •'  I  am  tired  of  it."* 

*'  So  am  I,"  said  Phil,  ''  but  Avhat  can  we  do 
al)out  it  ?  We  niiglit  as  well  l»e  a  thousand  miles 
from  land  as  to  be  liere,  so  far  as  running  away  is 
concerned.  We  have  just  got  to  grin  and  bear  it 
till  something  turns  \\\)." 

On  the  last  of  July  the   Confederates  were  jubi- 


LEA  VIXr;    DIXIE.  Kil 

lant.  When  T  iii(|uire(l  the  cause  of  their  manifes- 
tations of  i(^v  one  of  the  gaiard  said: 

"  Our  army  has  just  captured  the  whole  durned 
Yankee  army  at  Manassas,  and  sent  'cm  to  Rich- 
monch'' 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  "em '! "  I 
inquired,  just  to  see  what  tlieir  ideas  of  the  uses 
of  tlie  Yankees   were. 

''•  Well,  I  reckon  we-uns  '11  make  3'ou-uns  work 
for  we-uns." 

Then  followed  extravagant  statements  of  the 
performances  of  the  Confederate  army,  all  of  which 
they  believed,  no  douht,  hut  which  we  seriously 
questioned  among  ourselves. 

Up  to  this  time  we  had  been  treated  with  some 
respect  and  forl)earance,  hut  thereafter  the  ser- 
geants and  oflicers  became  overbearing  and  disa- 
greeable, if  not  insulting.  Even  the  privates 
seemed  to  consider  themselves  superior  persons, 
and,  as  Phil  said,  "  put  on  lugs." 

Our  rations  meanwhile  steadily  decreased  in 
quantity,  and  we  all  grew  more  and  more  discon- 
tented. This  discontent  was  not  the  less  when  the 
guard  began  to  circulate  a  rumor  that  we  were  all 
to  l)e  sent  to  Lynchburg. 

One  day,  about  the  23d  of  August  I  should 
judge,  I  was  wandering  along  the  ocean  shore  when 
I  heard  a  shrill  whistle.  I  turned  and  saw  John 
Nixon,  beckoning  to  me  from  a  sand-hill. 

I  knew  at  once  that  he  had  something  of  impor- 


1i;2  FATUiin   AdAiysr  sn\. 

laiicc  to  coiiiiiiuiiicatc,  and  that  lie  liad  Ix^cn  <m  tlie 
lookniit  fur  inc. 

"  What  "s  tlic  tronl)!*'.  Jolni '.'' "  I  iiujnii'tMl :  "you 
hiolc  as  it '"    — 

"I  i'fcl<on.""  said  John,  iiilfi-i-iqitinL;'.  ••that  the 
troidilc  concci-ns  \-on-iiiis  as  nuu-h  as  it  docs  we-iins. 

'ihciii    ] ]ilc   down    thci'c   arc   n'oiii"  to  })ut   nic   in 

thcii'  arni\".  an"  send  \dn-uns  otT  to  some  hii;-  ])fison 
up  to  l.yiichl»ur^'  wlici'c  tliey  'vc  L;'ot  a  power  more 
o"  \'an]<s."" 

••llow  do  you  Iciiow.  Jolni.  tliat  tliis  isn't  a 
nicrc  minor/""  I  askcih  ••  1  "\c  heard  tlic  talk 
aliout  oni-  Iteini^'  sent  to  some  otlier  prison  mv- 
stdtV" 

••  This  ain't  no  \vliat-d"-yi'-eall-it."'  said  John  ;  '"'  uiy 
file's  cousin  "s  a  (derlv  "t  tlie  cap'n's  oi'lice  an'  see 
tlic  ])apcr"t  tt)hl  tlic  cap  wliat  t'  (hi  witli  you-uns. 
"n  "t  tile  same  time  Major  Anderson  come  in  an' 
said  he  was  L;din'  t'  hev  nie  put  in  the  S{|Uad  for 
(hilL  I  I't'ckoii  the  talk  hcL;un  'tween  that  Cap'n 
IJarron  an'  the  major,  "cause  one  "f  'em  said  "t  I 
"d  make  a  Lj'ood  man  ler  thr  navy  vessels,  an'  t' 
otlu-r  \\anted  me  in  th"  army.  Now,  I  reckon  I 
won't  take  a  n'un  for  them  folks.  Jane  won't  like 
it.  T'-morrer  —  so  Jane"s  cousin  says  —  they  "11 
take  away  y'r  })"role  an'  send  y'  t"  th"  guard-house 
ag'in.      J'hev  won't  git  me.      I  sh'll  l)e  a-tishiu'."" 

••  r>ut  what's  vour  plan.  Johu '.■' "  1  said  ;  "  I  know 

yon    ve  got  one." 

"I  reckon   that   guard-house  where  they  keep  ye 


LEA  VIN'.'    DIXIE.  163 

ain't  uiiU'h  to  ^ct  out'n  wlit'ii  I  was  thai/*  said 
John:  "the  boards  t'  that  hjwiT  bunk  was  h)ose, 
an"  there  "s  no  floor  nnderneath.  1  dnj;-  a  right 
smart  lioh'  down  ther,  nfself,  an'  I  reckon  yon  t-'n 
claw  ont  in  a  right  smart  time." 

^'  Ikit  what  \\ill  \A-e  do  then?  AVe  can't  get  away 
from  this  phice,"  I  exchiimed  impatiently. 

"Well,"  said  John  with  provoking  slowness,  ''I 
reckon  you  'n'  IMiil  'n'  that  cap'n  man  \1  better  git 
out  "n'  come  over  t'  th'  second  crik  where  I  've  goi; 
my  l)oat  an'  a  lot  o'  grub  flxin's." 

And  then  John  outlined  a  plan  l)y  Avhich  he 
agreed  to  have  his  boat  in  a  creek  about  three 
miles  distant.  If  we  did  not  cc^ne  sooner  he  wc  uld 
be  there  three  nights  in  succession,  and  longer  if 
we  could  not  get  there  at  that  time  and  lie  ould 
do  so  safely. 

On  returning  to  the  fort  I  told  Phil  all  this,  and 
more  which  I  have  not  here  given. 

The  next  morning  when  I  started  to  leave  the 
guard  quarters  I  was  told  that  I  had  violated  my 
parole  l)y  talking  to  the  negro  laborers,  and  the 
captain  was  also  deprived  of  his  liberty  on  a  similar 
pretext. 

When  I  liad  dennirred  at  being  restrained,  the 
young  officer  of  the  guard  showed  me  his  written 
instructions,  that  we  were  not  to  be  allowed  there- 
after to  go  beyond  guard  quarters. 

During  the  day  I  examined  the  lower  bunl;  and 
found,  as    John    had   said,  tliat    the    boards   Nvere 


im  FAriiEi;   AdAixsr  so.x. 

Idosc,  and  tliat  uiidci'  this  IIrtc  was  iiotliiiiL,''  but 
saiid   to   (»l»sti-iicl    our  (,-\it. 

( )ii  the  iii^'lit  ol'  Aiin'iist  -'k  at  alxiut  eleven 
()"('l()ck.  Phil.  \\]i(»  had  heeli  (iccii|»\-iiin-  the  upper 
hiliil\,  i'eiii(>\ed  the  lioai'ds  at  the  l)()tti»in  of  the 
lower  one.  and  ^\■e  weie  read\'  to  ti'\"  to  i^et  out. 
'idle  second  relief  had  just  Ix'cn  seid  out,  and 
the  !_;'uai'ds  relie\f(l  \\-ei'e  soon  fast  aslee[i  and 
snoriuL;'.  Soon  after  this  I  saw  the  sei'L;"eant  of  the 
L;-uai'd  hisliMi  the  door,  and  tlieii.  eastiiiL;'  a  glance 
toward  his  prisoiieis,  he  la\'  (hiwn,  liut  a})parently 
not  witli  the  intention  of  sleejiiiiL;-.  I  saw  him 
making'  an  effoi't  to  keep  awake,  l)ut  after  starting 
up  and  looking  aiduiid  once  or  twice  he  sank  hack 
in  his  hunk,  and  soon  his  nieasui'ed  l)reatliing 
assured   nie   that    it   \\as   safe    for  us   to   act. 

Thi.s  Avas  hetter  luck  than  we  had  anticipated. 

I  silenth'  got  up.  when  one  of  tiie  guard,  who 
sle[)t  next  to  us.  looked  out  of  his  liuidc,  and  then 
yawned  and  lay  down  again,  and  was  sc>on  fast 
aslee}). 

It  was  a  half  hour  after  tliis  \\  hen  we  went  to 
woik.  It  was  liy  no  means  a  hard  task  to  dig 
awav  the  loose  samL 

( )u  starting  out  W(>  had  no  ti'oul)le  in  evading  the 
sentinels,  a\1io  kept  l)ut  an  indifferent  outh^ok,  as  I 
had  more  than  once  previously  observed. 

In  two  liours'  time  we  had  reached  the  I'endez- 
vons  agreed  n})on,  l)ut  at  iii'st  could  !ind  neither 
John  nor  his  boat.     For  a  time  1    thought    some 


LEAVING    DIXIE.  165 

disaster  had  overtaken  him  ;  then  thought  I  would 
try  a  signal  wliieli  lie  had  taught  us.  It  was  at 
once  answered,  and  in  another  moment  John  came 
ashore  in  a  dory  from  his  sail-hoat  which  he  had 
secured  off-shore,  where  she  could  not  be  easily- 
seen. 

To  our  surprise  we  found  not  only  John's  wife, 
but  also  Captain  liangs  on  board.  I  had  told  the 
captain  of  John's  plan  and  had  described  the  situa- 
tion of  his  boat,  and  he  had  made  his  way  to  the 
place  early  in  the  evening  by  evading  the  guard 
and  slip})ing  out  of  the  door. 

John  Nixon's  boat  was  twenty  feet  long,  sharp 
at  both  ends,  half-decked  forward,  and,  as  he  often 
said,  was  the  best  boat  on  Pamlico  Sound,  and  lit 
to  make  an  ocean  voyage  in. 

By  Captain  Bangs's  advice  he  had  formed  the 
plan  of  passing  through  one  of  the  northern  inlets, 
and  then  of  making  his  way  up  the  coast  of  Dela- 
ware and  New  Jersey,  but  was  in  hopes  that  before 
going  so  far  we  should  fall  in  with  some  northern- 
bound  vessel  and  be  taken  on  board. 

A  gentle  soutliern  breeze  was  l)lowing  when  we 
got  up  sail  and  steered  to  the  northward. 

"  I  hope  we  shan't  see  that  or'nery  '  Cotton 
Plant '  anywhere,"  said  John  anxiously ;  "  one  o' 
ye  'd  better  go  for  ard  an'  keep  a  lookout." 

We  kept  from  six  to  ten  miles  from  the  shore 
during  the  next  day,  and  when  night  came  steered 
nearer  the  shore. 


1G6  FATHER    AGAINST    SON. 

•"I  s'piiso."  said  -lolin,  '' we  iiiio-lit  git  tliroiii^li 
at  tlie  ( )('ra('<»la'  Inlet.  l)Ut  inel_)l)e  tlie  Ilat'ras 
cusses  "ve   n'ot  a    hoat   tliere." 

It  was  al»iiut  twelve  o'eloek  that  iiiglit  when  wo 
tacked  sheets  and  slodd  tor  one  of  tlie  iiortliei-n 
inh'ts,  \\-hei'e  Jolni  saiil  tlie  chainiel  was  xevy  nari'ow 
and  intricate,  and  where  none  hut  thost^  familiar 
with   its   eonstaiit    ehan^'es   ever   xcntui'ed. 

As  we  neared  it  we  found  the  tide  ^'oin^'  out  like 
a  niill-i'aee,  and  calling'  foi'  all  of  John's  attention 
to   keep   the   Itoat    fi'oin    ^roundin^'. 

Suddeidv  there  eanie  an  ominous  call:  "' lh)at 
aho\- !  Wdiat  hoat  is  that'.'""  .lohii  made  no  I'osponse 
at  first,  hut  said  to  us  on  hoard,  "  Kee}i  down  in  the 
hoat  so  they  won"t  see  ye." 

When  the  call  was  i'i'peate(l  in  a  peremptory 
maimer.  John  ei'ied  out  in  a  tone  of  great  alai'm, 
'■'A  tishin'  hoat:  the  l)lamed  tide's  toting  me  out 
to  sea,  an"  I  Avant  to  get  in  shore  :  throw  me  a  rope, 
or  give  me  a  tow." 

Jolm's  tones  seemed  so  genuine  that  the  people  on 
board  the  hostile  eraft  seemed  tliorougldy  deeeive(h 

^' No  steam  up,"  eame  the  laughing  reply.  "-Let 
down  _y'r  sail  and  row  in." 

"'  Throw  a  line,  1  say,  or  I  reckon  I  "11  go  on  to 
tliese  (h^ggoned  flats :  I  dar"  n"t  let  go  the  tiller,  an' 
I'm  Jest  a-gittin'  out  to  sea  right  fast, — an"  my 
wife  "s  e\}»ectin"  me  t"  hum  "fore  this."' 

A  hoarse  latigh  was  the  oidy  answer,  as  we  were 
swept  by  the  strong  current  out  into  the  ocean. 


LEA  VI NG    DIXIE.  167 

'"I  reckon 't  was  that  or'nery  'Cotton  Plant'; 
they  did  n"t  \va\q  np  steam,  an'  if  they  fire  their 
dnrned  ol*  g-nn  now  they  can't  liit  the  boat." 

In  another  moment  the  steamer  couhl  not  l^e  seen 
for  the  (Uii'kness,  and  then  we  trimmed  onr  sails  so 
as  to  lay  onr  way  np  the  coast. 

''Tliat  was  an  all-fired  good  trick  y'  played  on 
them  fellers,"  said  Captain  Bangs.  ''  I  almost 
thonght  y'  u'a»  scared." 

"■  I  was  n't  'feared  they  'd  ketch  me  ;  the'd  go]; 
stnck  on  th'  flats  'f  the'd  started  after  ns  ;  Init  I 
war  'feared  tlie'd  fire  that  big  gnn  an'  sink  'er, 
or  I  wonld  n't  'a'  made  such  a  dnrnation  yelpin' 
'bout  it,"  said  John  in  his  high-pitched  drawling 
tones. 

"  They  won't  put  chase  ;  should  n't  wonder  if  they 
tho Light  the  joke  was  on  their  side,"  said  the  gruff 
captain  in  a  tone  of  satisfaction. 

We  were  some  fifteen  miles  up  the  coast  when  a 
glorious  day  broke,  and  under  a  full  press  of  sail, 
with  the  wind  abeam,  we  went  on  our  way.  During 
the  day  we  held  our  course  without  sighting  a 
single  sail,  all  on  board,  with  the  exception  of 
John's  wife,  taking  turns  at  standing  watch. 

About  ten  o'clock  the  next  morning  Captain 
Bangs,  who  was  on  the  lookout  at  the  bow,  as  he 
stood  snufflng  the  air,  and  looking  at  the  sky  said : 
"  We  sh'll  hev  a  change  o'  weather  in  course  of 
twenty-four  hours ;  it 's  comin'  on  t'  blow." 

Just  then  he  stopped  suddenly  in  his  weather 


IF.S  FAT  HER    ACALYST    SON. 

})r()l)liecy.  ;ni<l  jiointiiin-  in  a  iiortli-east  direction 
excitedly   exrlaimt'd  : 

••  What  "s   tliat    over  tlicrc?" 

We  all  dcclanMl  we  could  n't  see  anytliing  ex- 
cept some   dai'lv    clinids. 

'•Clouds."  said  the  captain  derisively.  '"  that  "s 
the  snidke  "f  a  steamer,  hut  she  makes  a  lot  o" 
smoke,  or  thei'c   must  he  a   lot  of  "em  together." 

.lohu  made  no  remaik.  hut  stood  off  shore  that  he 
might   intei'cept  the  ci'aft. 

"  What  are  you  up  to,  -lohu?"  said  Phil:  ''they 
ma\-  he   I'ehel   craft    for  all    \(iu   know.'' 

••  Xaw."  saiil  .lohii  contemptuouslv,  "the  rehs 
aiu"t  got  oidy  a  powerful  po"  lot  o'  vessels,  —  not 
"iiough  to  make  all  that  smoke." 

••  ^is,"  agiiH'd  the  captain,  "'an*  then  if  I  ain't  a 
landluhl)er  they  l)urn  hard  coal,  an'  most  o'  these 
folks  (making  a  motion  with  his  hands  toAvarcl 
Ilatteras  )  ])nrn  pitch  pine  or  soft  coal." 

'•  I  wish  "t  I  'd  a  glass,  l)ut  I  am  pooty  sure  there  's 
a  fleet  o*  vessels  out  there,"  said  Captain.  Bangs. 

"  Perhaps  they  are  English  ships,"  I  said,  "  com- 
ing to  help  these  rel)s.  The  reljs,  when  I  was  at  the 
fort,  said  tliey  expected  the  Johnny  Bulls  to  help 
"em." 

'"No,"'  said  the  captain,  shaking  his  head  decid- 
edly, •'  not  at  this  stage  o"  the  game.  If  the  English 
hel[»  in  any  way  it  "11  l)e  hy  sellin'  somethin' :  they 
\\on't  help  either  side  till  they  "re  certain  wliicli  is 
eomin"  out  on  top  in  the  light."' 


LEAVixr;   DIXIE.  imi 

As  we  neared  the  ships,  or  j'ather  steamers,  C"ap- 
taili  Bangs  dechu'ed  that  they  were  war  steamers. 
"  If  there  ain't  the  stai'S  and  stripes,"  said  he,  '•  my 
name  ain't  Bangs.  Yes,  they  're  Uncle  Sam's 
barkers  an"  no  mistake;  'n'  I  may  be  a  fool,  bnt  I 
think  they're  on  their  way  t'  call  them  l)lasted 
sinners  to  repentance  down  there  t'  Hat'ras." 

In  conrse  of  a  qnarter  of  an  hour  it  Ijecame  cer- 
tain that  it  was  a  squadron  of  war  vessels. 


1<0  FAT II Ell    A<;AIXST    SOX. 


rilAPTKR    XV. 

THE    r.odT    IS    (»X    THK    OTJIER    LEG. 

As  We  ncaivd  \\\v  fleet  \\liicli  A\'o  had  seen  in  the 
distance,  it  |ii(»\ed  lo  he.  as  the  ohl  eaptaiii  liad 
surniiseth  a  s(|iia(h'(>ii  dl  I  iiited  States  war  vessels, 
a<'ei)iin)aiii('(I  liy  ehai'lered  steainei's. 

'•  I'xtat  ah(>\' I  ""  caiiic  the  call  from  the  nearest 
steaiuei'.      ■•  What  hoal  is  that  '!" 

•Idhn  answered  in  a  tcehle,  hiL;-h-[)itched  tone; 
hnt  the  old  ca}>taiii.  disre^'ardinn'  his  answer,  i'e[ilied 
hy  shontiiiL;'  ont  in  a  more  seaman-like  style 
thi'on^h   his   hands   hollow  i'(l   for  a   trnmpet, 

''The  1)oat  '.lane,'  from  Ifatteras,  with  escaping 
prisoners  iVom  the  forts.      What  steamer  is  tliat?" 

And  then  in  an  aside  he  said,  '•That'll  fetch  "em  ; 
they'll  want  to  know  all  we  loiow."' 

"The  United  States  war-steamer  '  Monticello,"  " 
came  the  answer.      "  Will  \()n  come  on  1)oard?" 

On  receiving  an  al'liiinative  reply,  the  steamer 
slowed  n})  and  took  ns  on  hoai'd  and  onr  hoat  in 
tow. 

I'ntil  the  moment  of  my  arrival  there  I  had 
never  l)een  on  the  deck  of  a  war-vessel,  and  I  was 
amazed  at  the  dazzling  white  decks,  tlie  neatness 
and  briuiitness  of  the  uniforms  of  the  officers  and 


THE    BOOT    IS    ON    THE    OTHER    l.EG.      17l 

sailors,  and  tlic  polished  metal  and  taut  ngging  of 
this  ship.  To  my  eyes  she  looked  more  like  ii 
craft  for  a  holiday  show  than  for  serviceal:)le  ac- 
tion ;  l)ut  mine  was  the  mistake  of  a  novice  in 
naval  affairs. 

''Good  deal  o"  gingerhread  work  here,"  said 
Bangs  in  his  suppressed  bass,  and  then,  with  an 
approving  look  at  the  orderl}- seamen  and  the  Avhite 
decks  and  taut  rigging,  added,  "  Everything  ship- 
shape to  a  marlin-spike,  though.  " 

"•  You  are  wanted  at  the  office,"  said  a  spruce- 
looking  young  gentleman.  AVt-  were  conducted  to  a 
spacious  cabin,  where  seated  at  a  table,  on  which 
were  charts  and  wiiting  materials,  wT-re  two  officers 
of  the  ship.  The  older  of  these  addressed  John, 
saying : 

"  You  are  a  native  of  Hatteras,  Ave  understand  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  responded  John,  "  my  wife  and  I  war 
both  born  there." 

'^  What  are  you  leaving  the  island  for  ?  " 

John  responded  by  telling  the  circumstances, 
which  the  reader  already  knows,  and  added: 

"  'Most  all  Ave-uns'  folks  —  'most  all  the  men 
folks,  I  mean — have  be'n  druv  off  by  these  crazy 
folks  Avho  ain't  satisfied  with  this  country  an'  want 
t'  fight." 

"  You  are  a  Union  man,  I  take  it,  Mr.  Nixon  ?  " 
said  the  officer  pleasantly. 

"  Yes,  T  reckon  th'  United  States  ar'  good  'nough 
f'r  me,"  said  John.     "  I  had  rights  'nough  'thout 


172  FATHER     Af.'AFXST     SON. 

li^-litiiT  tir  Yankees;  I  ain't  ^'ot  no  nin'gers,  aiT 
(l(»ii"t  want  any  that  Ivind  o'  truck,  neitluT.'" 

''I  suppose  you  are  a  }iilot  in  these  parts  ;  niost 
lishernien  are."" 

Jolni  sliook  Ills  liead.  sayinn'.  "T  know  tli"  clian- 
nels  an"  Pamlico.  I  n'clcon.  Init  a  small  erat't  an"  a 
bii;'  ship  aiv   (lit't'"rent."" 

After  ])UttinL;-  a  few  general  (jUestions  akout  the 
island  and  its  people,  the  (»riieer  he^'an  to  impure 
Avhat    we  knew  ahout   the   forts. 

"•I  think  this  youn^-  feller  has  a  pictur"  he  made 
o'  the  forts,""  said  ("a[itain   15anL;'s. 

I  hung  my  hea(k  for  I  knew  the  drawing  I  had 
made  was  anything  hut  a  good  one,  though  I  liad 
drawn  a  better  one  from  it  for  one  of  the  noii-eom- 
ndssioued  oftieei's  of  the  garrison.  T.  how  ex  er.  took 
it,  crumpled  and  soile(k  from  my  pot-ket,  and  at 
Ids  ro({iiest  both  Phil  and  I  stepped  to  the  table  or 
desk,  and  in  reply  to  his  (piestions  soon  gaxe  him 
all  the  information  we  possessed,  whieh  after^^■ard 
proved  to  be  of  considerable  value.  The  officer 
also  brought  otd,  by  a  few  (|iiestious,  the  story  of 
our  shipwreck  on   Hatteras. 

After  the  interview  Ave  were  assigned  to  (jnarters 
with  the  petty  oiheers,  and  in  half  an  liotir  felt 
otirselves  very  nuich  at  home  among  them. 

C)ne  of  the  sailors  said  to  me,  *■'  Blast  my  e^'es, 
youngster,  yoti  "le  sailin"  under  close  reef.  I've 
got  some  togs  that  b"longed  to  Bill  Barnacles,  a 
young  cha[)  that  died."" 


THE    BOOT    rS    nX    THE    OTHER     LEG.      173 

Then  he  sliowcfl  me  a  suit  of  sailor's  elotlies 
that  were  just  ahout  my  size.  These,  after  some 
bargaining,  I  Ijought,  giving  him  Bill's  wateh  and 
a  promise  to  pay  him  five  dollars  some  other  time. 

I  put  the  elothes  on  at  onee  after  the  bargain  was 
concluded,  and  the  sailor  who  sold  them  said  he 
would  Ikivc  thought  they  were  made  for  me. 

We  learned  that  the  squadron  consisted  of  seven 
war-vessels :  the  '^  ^linnesota  "  (the  flagship  of  the 
squadron),  the  "  AVabash,"  the  "  Monticello,"  the 
"  Susquehanna,"  the  ''  Pawnee,"  the  "•  Harriet 
Lane,"  and  the  "  Cumberland"  ;  carrying  altogether 
one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  guns,  many  of  them  of 
heavy  calibre. 

In  addition  to  these  war-vessels,  there  were  the 
"  Adelaide,"  the  ''  George  Peabody,"  and  the  tug 
"  Fanny,"  which  were  chartered  steamers  and 
transports ;  there  were  also  two  or  three  schooners 
without  masts,  and  a  hxrge  number  of  iron  surf- 
boats.  We  learned  that  on  board  of  the  transports 
was  a  body  of  nine  hundred  troops,  under  the 
command  of  General  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  while 
the  naval  expedition  was  commanded  by  Flag 
Officer  Stringham,  U.S.N. 

As  Bangs  had  surmised,  this  formidable  array  of 
battleships  was  on  its  way  to  attack  the  Confed- 
erate stronghold  standing  at  the  entrance  of  Pam- 
lico and  Albemarle  Sounds. 

As  we  came  on  deck.  Captain  Bangs  said, 
"  'Tween  me  an'  th'  mainm'st,  shipmates,  I  think  the 


174 


F  I  TJJKR     .  1  a  A  fXS  7'    .s77.V. 


l)()(it  '11  ])v  oil  l"  (•tlicr  \f'j;  with  them  hlastrd  rcltcls 
that  was  so  lii^'h  an"  min'htv  with  iis  1"  llal'ras  : 
I'll  n'it  ni\'  schditncr  hack,  au"  tlif\'"ll  git  a  lesson, 
true  's  nu'  iiaiiu'  "s  r)aii'_;s  ! 

Aim!  the  old  sca-do^'.  with  a  '^vhn  smile,  hit  into 
a  hiiLi'f  }»1iil;'  of  ••  na\  y."  as  if  to  I'liiphasi/.c  his 
sa.tist'actioii. 

''  It  "11  tak'ca  j)o\\-('ii'ul  lot  o"  lessons  t"  learn  them 
thar  folks.  !  reckon, "  said  John  vcrv  carnestlv. 
'' ^'on  c"ii  learn  a  stii]»id  or  a  fool,  hut  I  reckon  our 
folks  over  thar'  are  j)liinih  crazy."' 

I'^arly  on  'Ihiesday  lllornill^•  Hatteras  lio'ht  was 
in  si^iit.  Wdieii  we  roiiiide(l  tiie  oiitershoals  there 
Avas  a  heaxy  ^'roiiiid  swell,  and  as  we  neared  the 
shore  the  l)each.  as  far  as  the  e\'e  could  see.  pre- 
sented all  uiihrokeii  line  of  surf.  I>\'  li\'e  o'cloek 
in  the  afternoon  the  whole  sipiadron  had  c(»me  to 
anchor  at    (he  southward   of  the   t'ape. 

During'  the  night  husy  [)rej)ai'ations  were  made 
for  the  landing  of  troops  in  the  morning.  The 
stirf  l)oats  were  hoisted,  and  signals  were  exchanged 
hetweeu  the  slii})s  of  the  s(piadron  and  the  ilag- 
ship.  Tlu'se  and  other  preparations  showed  that  a 
drama  of  naval  hattle  was  to  o[)en  with  the  dawn 
of  tlie  coming  day. 

.John  was  sent  to  the  llag-ship,  where  it  was 
tliougiit  he  might  he  of  itse.  as  he  was  familiar 
with  the  inlet  and  other  features  of  the  islan(h 

As  t'arl\-  as  four  o'clock  the  next  morning  the 
crew  of  the  '*  Mijnticello  "  was  summoned  to  hreak- 


•wf 


^ 


THE  BOOT  IS   OX  I'll E   (>'/7u:n   Li:a.    IT') 

fast,  and  hy  seven,  with  the  "  Pawnee  "  and  the 
'^  Harriet  Lane,  "  the  steamer  Avas  ordered  to  assist 
in  covering,  or  protecting,  the  landing  of  tlie  troops. 

Tlie  place  selected  for  the  landing  was  al)ont 
three  miles  from  the  forts,  where  tliere  was  a  slight 
bend  in  the  sliore,  and  less  undertow  than  at  any 
other  portion  of  that  part  of  the  l)each.  Shell  were 
fired  from  our  ship  to  protect  the  troops  when 
landed. 

The  dismasted  scliooners  were  anchored  near  tlie 
shore,  and  then  allowed  to  drift  near  the  breakers, 
after  which  each  of  the  iron  surf  boats  took  from 
them  fifty  or  more  soldiers  to  the  shore. 

Phil,  at  his  request,  was  allowed  to  accompany 
an  officer  in  one  of  these  boats,  but  I  did  not  get 
the  chance,  in  which,  as  w"ill  be  seen,  I  was  fort- 
unate. 

A  boat  from  the  •■'  Pawniee  "  made  a  successful 
landing,  but  some  of  the  boats  that  followed  were 
swamped,  and  most  of  them,  when  they  entered  the 
surf  were,  with  the  greatest  difficulty,  kept  from 
capsizing.  S(Mne  of  them  I  saw  hurled  on  the 
beach  with  the  waves  sweeping  over  them,  Avhile 
the  half-drowned  soldiers  struggled  through  the 
water  to  the  shore.  The  surf  lioats  Avere  so  badly 
crushed  by  the  heavy  breakers  that  they  could  not 
return  to  the  A^essels  ;  and  after  some  three  hun- 
dred men  had  been  taken  to  the  shore  no  attempts 
were  made  to  land  any  more. 
,     Those  on  shore  were  left  in  a  very  perilous  and 


17<')  i'A'riii:n  AdMxsr  snx. 

uncomfdi'talilc  |)(tsiii(in.  witliout  pi'dvisions.  uiialilc 
to  I'ctuni.  with  tlicii'  aiiiiiiuijitii)ii  wet.  and  lial>K'  to 
lie  cajjtm'cil  l»v  a  sii[)t'ri()r  force  wliicli  iniu'lit  casily 
l)c  sent  aL^'aiiist   tlifiii. 

Ill  the  distance,  on  tlic  forts,  tlic  enemy's  flags 
could    l)e   seen    ilelia.iitlv   lloatlng. 

All  tills  tinii'  1  had  lieeii  lntereste(I  In  watching' 
the  gumiers,  and  the  shell  tliat  wei'e  occasionally 
thrown  oN'er  the  li'oo[is  towards  the  eiieni\'. 

M  \'  attention  was,  howe\'er,  soon  drawn  to  still 
iiioi'c    exciting   scenes. 

At  aliout  ten  o"(dock  in  the  forenoon  there  was 
a  nioyement  among  the  remaining  \essels  of  the 
fleet. 

"  Idast  my  timbers,"  said  Captain  Bangs,  "if 
I  don't  think  they're  goin'  to  give  them  f(^rts  a 
lesson  from  the  Ten  ( ''nniian'meiits,  sech  as,  '• 'Jdiou 
shalt  not  steal,'  oi'  somethin'  of  a  moral  natur'  f'r 
th'r  good  :      What  craft  's  that?" 

''That,"  said  the  sailor  addressed,  "is  the  '  Wa- 
l)ash,"  towing  the  '  ( 'undierland,'  and  that  craft 
following  them  is  the  tlag-slii[)  •  Minnesota."  " 

"I  s'pose  they're  prooty  well  fixed  f'r  shoot- 
in'  ?  "  said  the  old  ca})tain  inipiiringly. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  a  [>etty  officer,  whose  acquaint- 
ance I  was  cnltiyating,  "the  'Wahash'  carries 
forty-fiye  lieayy  guns,  the  '  Mlmiesota  '  forty-six, 
the  '•Cumberland"  twenty-four,  and  the  'Susque- 
hanna '  out  there  getting  under  way  carries  seven- 
teen guns." 


THE    BOOT    IS    ON    THE    OTHER    LEG.      177 

"One  liinidivd  and  thirty-tAvo  buU-dog's  l)arkin' 
in  one  fight !  "  exclaimed  the  ohl  ea[)tain.  •■  Why, 
tliej  c"n  blow  them  forts  out  o'  the  .sand  into 
Pamlieo   Sound !  " 

The  vessels  went  forward  into  position  south- 
easterl}'  from  the  forts.  As  they  showed  their 
sides  to  us  we  saw  a  jet  of  flame  and  smoke  leap 
from  their  ports,  followed  by  a  thunderous  roar  and 
concussion  that  echoed  over  the  water;  and  then 
from  the  forts  there  came  an  angry  flash  and  roar, 
as  if  in  acceptance  of  the  challenge  to  combat. 

The  first  battle  between  earthworks  and  slii[)s, 
in  the  Civil  War,  had  begun. 

In  from  ten  to  twenty  minutes  the  "•  Minnesota  " 
and  the  '^  Susquehanna  '"  added  their  guns  to  the 
clamor  and  were  belching  flame  and  smoke,  and 
filling  the  air  with  terriljle  explosions,  the  sounds  of 
which  came  rolling  and  vibrating  over  the  waters. 

"•  That 's  a  pretty  good  play  of  the  commodores  !  " 
exclaimed  an  officer  who  stood  looking  off  at  the 
ships  in  conflict.  "  By  Jove,  they  can't  get  his 
range  while  our  ships  plump  almost  every  shot  into 
their  sand-heaps.  Just  see  the  shell  burst  above 
them  I  " 

Sure  enough,  we  could  see  the  sand  thrown  up 
as  the  shot  struck  the  parapet  outside  of  Fort 
Clark,  and  little  clouds  of  smoke  above  the  forts 
showed  the  bursting  of  shell  there,  while  the  shots 
from  the  guns  of  the  forts  either  fell  short  or  threw 
up  jets  of  water  beyond  the  ships,  as  they  struck. 


178 


FATHER    AGAINST    SON. 


The  reason  for  this  was  tliat  tin-  ships  instead  of 
I'cniaininL;'  stati()iiar\'constantlv  passed  and  repassed 
tlie  ciiciin's  I'oi'ts  in  iiarrdwiiiL;'  nv  \vi(U'ning  eireles, 
(h'HvcriiiL;-  tlicir  lire  as  tlicy  eanie  in  ran^-e.  IJy 
tliesc  tactics  of  the  adiiiii-al  tiic  artilh-rists  at  the 
foi'ts  were  ciuistaiitly  haflleil  in  tlieir  attempts  to 
H'cl  rani^'c  of  the  ships.  If  ])y  i^'ood  hick  lliey  nearly 
;j;t»t  tile  raiin'e  they  \\-oidd  l(tse  tlie  adxaiitaye  so 
L;-aine(l  at  the  next  hont,  for  tlie  sliips  did  not  pass 
twice  at  tlie  same  distance.  'I'hns  e\frv  shot  made 
h\-  the  enemy  was  in  the  iiatnre  of  an  experiment, 
and  duriiiL;'  that  jiart  of  the  action  not  a.  ship  was 
struc]^. 

I  watched  the  red  toni^aies  of  hre  and  jets  of 
A\hite  snlphnr  smoke  that  lea[)e(l  in  constant  sne- 
cession  from  oiir  ships,  \\liile  the  conciissioiis  shook 
the  deck  on  which  I  stood,  and  seemed  ev(.'n  to  rock 
the  earth  heiieath  the  sea. 

The  s(piadron  moved  maji'stically  withont  halt, 
deli\('rini4-  lire  and  throwing'  death  and  destruction 
a-mong  onr  enemies. 

The  hnrsting  shell,  and  other  evidences  of  dis- 
trnction,  imjiressed  me  as  something  terrihle  ;  or 
perhaps  sympathy  with  my  father's  people  gave  me 
this  feeling. 

''  It  *s  awfnl,"  I  said,  '■  for  those  })oor  fellows  in 
the  h)rts."' 

Meanwhile  the  "  ^lonticello."  having  performed 
her  mission  in  landing  and  covering  the  troops, 
turned    her    hoAvs    toward    the    fleet    and  steamed 


THE    BOOT    IS    ON    THE    O'lHllR    LEG.      170 

doMii  the  coast,  tiring  shot  into  the  forts  as  she 
advaneed. 

We  tlien  noticed  tliat  tlie  flag  of  Fort  Chirk  was 
(h)wn,  that  its  guns  were  silent,  and  that  the  men 
were  running  from  it  like  cliickens  from  the  swoop 
of  a  hawk. 

"  I  guess,"  said  Captain  Bangs,  standing  seaman- 
like, with  his  feet  wide  apart  and  with  the  sarcastic 
smile  of  an  injured  man  avenged,  "  that  them  rebel 
landluhhers  won't  steal  any  more  schooners  from 
honest  men  ag"i]i  right  away." 

When  Me  arrived  at  the  moutli  of  the  inlet  tlie 
lire  of  our  shi[)s  had  slackened,  and  Fort  Hatteras 
did  not  return  the  fire. 

I  heard  an  officer  say,  '"  The  fight  is  all  out  of 
them ;  they  've  got  enough  of  it." 

We  liad  just  liegun  to  make  our  way  into  the 
inlet  when  a  signal  came  from  the  flagship  for  the 
"Monticello  "  to  return  and  go  to  the  ''Minnesota." 

As  we  lay  near  the  huge  flagship,  John  and 
another  person  came  on  board  the  "•  Monticello  "  as 
})ilots. 

AVe  then  went  forward  and  entered  the  Ijreakers, 
the  lead  being  often  thrown  so  as  to  keep  the  craft 
in  the  deepest  water;  but,  as  we  advanced,  notwith- 
standing this  precaution,  the  ship  more  than  once 
struck  bottom,  making  everything  on  board  rattle. 

As  we  turned  the  point  of  land  at  the  inlet  we 
found  the  water  more  and  more  shallow ;  and  the 
vessel  pounded  the  bottom  constantly. 


ISO  FATII1:R    AdAINST    SON. 

( )i-(lci-s  were  o'iN'f'ii  to  turn  and  woi'k  tlie  vcssd 
out  a^'aiii,  wliiMi  tlicro  was  seen  a  llasli  and  smoke 
from  l^'dit  Ilattci'as,  followed  l)y  tlir  Ik'HowIiil;' of 
its  L^'iiiis,  and  llicir  shot  shi'ickcd  and  liowlcd  over 
our  heads  and  around  us. 

I  was  slandint;'  ahaft  iieai'  the  two  pivot  qaiirs 
when  1  hea.i'd  a  (|uiek  ordei;  and  the  n'uns  wei'e 
manned  and  he^an  to  make  sharp  replies  to  the 
reliel    hatterw 

Meanwhile  the  shi[).  tliou^h  ]i(")undinL;- tlie  bottom 
as  we  hacked  and  hlle(l,  turne(l  her  head  seaward, 
and  l>y  aid  of  full  steam,  and  taking'  a<lvantagc  of 
the  swell,  made  lu'r  w'a\'  out  a^'ain. 

Uut  the  ]'el)el  ^iins  meanwhile  did  ani[tle  execu- 
tion. <  )ne  shot  struck  the  shi[)  on  the  port  side, 
cari'viuL;-  away  thi'  davits,  di'ove  fra.^'nients  of  the 
boat  through  the  ^aHey,  from  whence  I  saw  the 
cooks  coming-  slowly,  hut,  as  Captain  IJangs  said, 
'' vei'y  ([uick  for  cooks." 

Still  later  another  shot  carried  away  the  forett)p- 
sail  yard,  and  the  sail  on  the  port  \'ard-arm,  stove 
in  the  giL;',  and  carried  awa}-  the  hottom  of  the 
whalehoat. 

The  '"  Minnesota  "and  her  sister  shi})s  had  mean- 
wdiile  [)romptly  o[)ened  on  the  forts.  This  caused 
tliem  to  slacken  lire  and  soon  to  cease  altogetlier. 

If  I  had  thought  the  tight  terrihle  ut  a  distance, 
liow^  shall  1  descrilje  my  emotions  when  actually 
under  lire  ? 

I  assisted  in  sinijde  matters  at  the  pivot  guns, 


TIIK    lUlOT    rS    nx    THE    (IT HER    LEG.      181 

siu'li  as  picking  up  the  swahs  or  liandspikes  wlieii 
they  fell  from  the  hands  of  the  men,  and  assisting 
the  powder-monkeys,  as  the  hoji^  who  passed  the 
p(^wder  were  called. 

]My  flesh  prickled,  and  a  feverish  sweat  broke 
out  at  the  roots  of  my  hair,  and  then  coursing  down- 
ward seemed  to  settle  in  a  kind  of  weakness  and 
treml)ling  around  my  knees,  where  it  lingered, 
making  them  at  times  so  weak  they  could  hardly 
carry  me  around  the  deck. 

I  was  frightened  as  well  as  excited,  but  owing 
to  my  somewhat  stolid  temperament  I  did  not  show 
as  much  fright  as  the  two  powder-monkeys  at  the 
guns. 

After  what  seemed  to  be  a  long  time  (though  I 
learned  afterwards  that  it  was  less  than  fifteen 
minutes)  we  were  afloat  again,  and  then  stood  off 
shore  heading  towards  the  flagship,  on  reaching 
which  we  took  on  board  carpentei's  to  plug  the  shot 
holes  and  to  make  other  temporary  repairs.  Then 
we  stood  toward  the  forts  once  moi'e,  firing  as  we 
went.  But  the  forts  had  had  enough  fighting  for 
that  day,  and  made  no  reply.  We  saw,  however, 
indications  that  they  were  making  preparations  to 
resume  the  fight  the  next  day. 

As  the  roar  of  battle  died  away  one  after  another 
of  the  ships  drew  out  of  range,  except  the  "  Monti- 
cello,"  the  "  Pawnee,"  and  the  "  Harriet  Lane," 
which  went  in  shore  to  protect  the  troops. 

Above    the  clamor  of   the   carpenters'  hammers 


1  s  :2  ]\\77fi:j:   Ac  A  i  n  s  t  s  o  x. 

;iii(l  niiillcts  \vi'  cDiild  a^aiii  lii'ar  tlu'  surf  rolliiiL;-  in 
on  tlic  slioic.  and  a  scawai'd  niunnur  tliat  t<_)ld  of  a 
I'isinL;'  sli  inn. 

As  dark'iicss  canit'  on  it  licLj-an  to  rain,  and  we 
coidd  sec  dai'k  lornis  around  t!n'  lircs  kindlcMJ  mi 
shore  li\'  tlic  troops,  which  sliowcd  tliat  tlicre  was 
hut    little   sleep   there  that   stormy  ni^lit. 

With  the  inoiniiiL^'s  da\\'n  tiie  storm  liad  suh- 
sided.  the  sun  was  shining,  and  llie  water  \\-as  less 
ron;_;h. 

l''rom  our  position  we  eould  see  the  stars  and 
stripi's  IhiiiL;'  from  l-'oi1  ( 'lark,  and  the  ri'hel  flag" 
from    I'^ort   llatteras. 

When  I  got  on  (leek  (aptain    Hangs  said: 

•■'Idieni  jiirates  that  stole  the  •  Philen.i  "  seeiu  t' 
want  "nothei- dose  o"  punishment,  an"  there  comes 
them   old   liarkers   t*   gi\'r   it   to   "em!"" 

I  looked  and  saw  the  whole  S(piadron  standing- 
in  toward  the  shore,  with  the  side-wdieeler  "  Sus- 
(pieliaiuia  ""    in   advance. 

The  tiring  fi'om  the  ships  soon  l)i'gaiK  and  was 
full  as  fierce  as  that  of  tlu^  day  hefore.  and  the 
aim  seemed  more  accurate,  e^'ery  shell  a[»pai'eutly 
hursting  in  or  ahove  the  fort,  enshroiuling  it  in 
smoke   and    throwing  up  idouds   of  dust. 

It  \\'as  hut  little  wonder  that,  as  we  learned 
later,  the  garrison  was  driven  from  the  guns  and 
took  refuge  in  the  l)oml)-[)roofs  For  an  hour  and  a 
half  of  the  latter  i)art  of  the  contliet  thesludl  landed 
in  the  eentre  of  the   fort,  and  tinallv  demoralized 


nil':    BOOT    IS    ox    THE    OTHER    JJ'.O.      Is:', 

its  (jHicers  and  men  l)y  sinasliing' throuu'li  tin-  Itouil)- 
})i'Oof  where  a  cro\yd  of  tlieiii  had  gatliered  for  pro- 
tection. 

At  eleven  o'ekiek  we  saw  a  white  flag  on  tlie  staff 
at  the  rel)el  fort,  and  knew  that  the  defence  was 
al)andoned. 

Fifteen  hundred  [)risoners  surrendered,  the  chief 
officer  of  whom  was  ( 'a[)tain  IWirron,  wlio  1>ut  a 
few  niontlis  previous  had  been  hokling  a  position 
of  trust  under  President  Lincohi  in  the  United 
States  navy. 

The  result  of  the  capture  of  Hatteras  Inlet  was 
of  great  importance,  for  it  not  only  gave  to  the 
national  government  possession  of  tlie  key  to  the 
inland  Avaters  of  Xortli  Carolina,  but  afforded  a 
point  of  support  for  our  Ijlockading  squadi'ons,  and 
stopped,  in  part,  the  fitting  out  of  piratical  expedi- 
tions on  these  interior  u'aters. 


1  s4  ]\  I  Tin:R    m:a  ixs r  sax. 


CIIAI'TFJJ    XVI. 

ox    SHOKK    AFTEi;    THE    I'-ATTLE. 

rlrsT  iH'forc  tlic  l);itili'  \\'as  (i\'cr  1  L;'(it  iicniiissioii 
t(i  ;icc(»ni]Kiii\'  ;i  iiiitlslii piiiaii,  wlio  was  LjiiiiiL;-  to  the 
sli(ii-f  ill  (iiif  (it  tlic  l)(ials. 

I  liad  iidt  seen  Phil  since  tlic  (la\"  hci'orc,  and 
waiitc(l  to  tails"  ^\'itll  him  alxait  L;'ftt iiiL;'  hoiiu'  on 
oiU'  (if  the  ships,  as  it  was  tlinn^hl  thai  tlu'  "  Moiiti- 
crllo""  wdiilil  remain  ou  duty  in  these  A\-aters  after 
the  vest  of   the  s(|ua(b'on  liad  left. 

The  soldiers  whom  I  found  on  shore  had  had  a- 
hard  time  siiiee  they  were  landed  tlu-re,  nearly 
thirlv-six  hours  before.  'rhe\'  were  "without  a 
pi'oper  siqijily  of  food,  water,  or  shelter.  The  ut- 
most   n'ood-nature.   however,   seemed    to   pi'evail. 

There  was  a  line  of  stat'ked  muskets,  neai'  wliieh 
were  tires,  at  whieh  the  men  were  di'vin^'  their 
elothes.  and  eookiiiL;'.  Most  of  the  soldiers  ^^■ore  a 
stran^'e-lookiiiL;'  dress,  eonsistinn'  of  a  red  ea}).  a 
sliort  jacket  open  at  the  front,  and  l^ai^'oy  trou- 
sers terminating  at  the  knees,  helow  which  were 
canvas  leggings  and  shoes.  The  men  Avearing  this 
dress  I  was  told  belonged  to  Hawkins's  regiment 
of  zouaves. 

"  Say,    eully.'"    said   one    of    a  group  to  whom  I 


nX    SHORE    AFTER     THE    BATTLE.       18o 

addressed  an  iiu|uiry,  ''  liev  y"  got  aiiylliin"  dry 
'bout  ye  t'  lend?  I  ain't  seen  noth'n'  dry 'eept  m' 
throat  senee  th"  pitelied  us  on  t'  this  sand-heap."' 

The  individual  who  thus  addressed  nie  was  a 
blond  3'oung  fellow  with  a  slouching  gait,  a  solemn- 
looking  eountenanee,  and  a  voice  which  ranged  from 
a  thin  trel)le  to  a  squeak  like  the  iiling  of  a  saw, 
and,  as  I  afterwards  perceived,  whose  nearest  ap- 
proach to  a  laugh  was  a  still  shriller  shriek  and  a 
spasm-like  contortion  of  liis  sallow  face. 

''  Plenty  of  Avater  last  night,"  I  said  suggest- 
ively. 

'•  Yas,  an'  plenty  in  these  bags  o'  ourclo'es,"  said 
the  blond,  for  illustration  wringing  Ids  wet,  baggy 
trousers  ds:nee. 

I  asked  if  any  of  them  liad  seen  Phil,  and  accom- 
panied my  question  with  a  description  of  him. 

"  Yis,  I  see  that  chump  hang'n'  'round  here.  Ain't 
seen  'm  lately,  dough,"  said  another. 

"  Dat  feller  ?  Yas,  I  'member  him.  He  's  no 
slouch.  Xo  more  chump  t'n  yous  are.  He  told 
s'm'  tough  yarns  "bout  be'n'  shipwrecked,"  said  the 
first  speaker,  whom  they  called  Blenders,  and  who, 
addressing  me,  continued  :  ''  Yas,  he  went  up  t'r 
th'  fo't  with  us  ;  was  th'r  w'en  th'r  ships  begun  t' 
plump  some  iron  things  's  big  's  nail-kags.  Th'y 
come  rid'n'  in  t'r  that  sand-heap  like  fun,  an'  druv 
us  out  a-fly'n'. 

'•'  Y^'r  th'  feller  dat 's  wid  him  when  he  's  ship- 
wrecked ?    Den  't  's  true  ?    A'r  jist  tor't  he  was  jist 


18(] 


FA  1111': n    ACALYST    SOlV. 


L;i\-"ii"  lis  L;iifT  -jist  cliiiiiiiii"  i"r  us.  IJiit  't  was 
toii^li  "ii"  we  L;()t  sl(t[)"ir  "i-oiiu"  las"  ui^lit.  Jist  wait, 
"11  vn\  \\"ilc  1  pile  some  n"  dis  stuffii"  in  an"  I  ^* 
lony  will  Vdus.      Mv  caiMi  "s  u[>  tlirr". '" 

''Don't  ti-(iii1)l('."'  1  said.  "I  loiow  tlic  way:  1  was 
a  [JiisdMcr  ii[i  there,  and  know  all  alioiit  the  iVtrt. 
So    \'ou   saw    my   ehuni    there'.''""    I    continued. 

"  \\^■ll.  I  sh"d  smile!  I  lit  out.  tho",  when  them 
naiI-kaL;s  com"  a  ioai-"n"  an"  slioiu'n".  ridin"  int"  th' 
l'o"t.      An"  don't  \-oiis  for^'it  it." 

I>v  this  time  Ideiiders  had  hnisheil  his  meal. 
This  consisted  of  part  of  a  !_;'oose.  which  I  was  told 
was  one  of  a  llocdc  that  liad  hissed  at  the  zouave 
uniform.  It  had  heen  lulled  hii'  showiiiL;"  disri'S[)eet 
to  1  lawkins's  zouaves.  (  )n  ourway  up  to  Fort  ( 'larlc 
lUeiidei's  still  continued  to  talk'.  lie  did  not  scru- 
ple to  say  that  if  he  evei'  L^'ot  home  he'd  never  take 
a  n'un  and  kna[)sack  ayain. 

•'  This  slee[)'n'  out  'n  th'  rain  don't  suit  mo  worth 
a  IJowerv  lam[)-[H)st.  cully.  "  and  then  with  a  des- 
olate groan  witli  which  he  constantly  interspersed 
his  remarks  he  said.  ''  Vous  sailors  gits  th"  best  'f 
us.  v'r  carry  yous  house  wid  yer.  or  rader  yousjiouse 
cariies  yous,  cully  :  jist  a-ri<rn'  'round  wid  it.  If 
't  had  n't  hin  f'r  d'  ol'  blazer  —  th'  what-d'-y'r- 
caller?"— 

''  The  '  Monticello,'  "  I  suggested. 

''  Y's  :  if 't  hadn't  l)in  for  her  jest  throwin'  nail- 
kags  at  dem  de'r  rebs,  dey  'd  lit  on  us  like  a  tliousan' 
o'  Ilav'stra'  brick." 


ON    SHORE    AFT]:n     THE    BATTLE.       IST 

On  arriving  at  the  fort  I  found  Pliil  in  a  fnll 
snit  of  rebel  gray  Mliicli  lie  had  fonnd  in  tlic  ol'li- 
cers'  (juarters  :  it  didn't  lit  very  Avell,  l>nt  it  was 
an  improvement  on  the  ragged  dress  he  had  east 
away. 

Tlie  soinid  of  tlie  guns  of  tlie  Federal  fleet  still 
eontinned,  and  tlie  rnsldng  sound  of  the  shell  trav- 
ersing the  air  Avas  terrifying  to  sensitive  nerves. 

"Just  hear  d*m  talk'n',"  said  Blenders,  "  jaw'n' 
away  't  de  fort ;  th'y  '11  knock  everythin*  to  p*ee"s  so 
t\\x'  won't  he  no  stuff'n'  left  in  'em.'' 

'•'  I  1)'lieve  they  "ve  stopped  firin'  up  t'  th'  fo't  th' 
rebs  're  in,"  said  Blenders's  captain.  ''  Say,  can't 
some  o'  you  bo^-s  kind  o'  sneak  'round  there  an' 
see  what's  c'm'  over  the  sp'rit  o'  the  dreams  o' 
Johnnie  reb  ?  " 

"A'r  now,  cap'n,  don't  give  ut  t'  us  so  high 
flown,"  said  Blenders,  with  one  of  his  piercing  tones 
which  I  had  learned  to  regard  as  a  laugh.  "  I  '11 
take  m'  shoot'n'-stick  an'  g'  up  an'  see  w'at  't 
means." 

"  Guess  we  'd  better  go  too,  Phil,"  I  said  ;  ''  we 
might  as  well  see  all  that 's  going  on." 

So  we  went  with  Blenders,  who  meantime  con- 
tinued to  talk,  clipping  his  "  ings  "  in  a  most  law- 
less manner,  and,  as  Phil  said,  speaking  as  if  it  was 
too  much  work  to  wag  his  jaw  to  pronounce  his 
words. 

When  we  came  in  sight  of  the  fort  we  saw  a  new 
flag  flying. 


ls,s  FATiiim   .\^:.\rxs'r  son. 

••'Fhey  "yc  sunfiKlcrcd.""  saiil  Pliil  :  ••  tlii'  white 
Hay  says  tlicy  "\('  ^ot  ciiohl;']!  of  tinlitiiin'."" 

As  we  adNaiici'il  toward  the  fort,  we  saw  tlieir 
men  111!  the  [iara[)('t.  and  tlicii  lieLj'aii  to  meet  sol- 
(hcrs  ill  ^raw  wlio  wei'c  as  a  ^eiici'al  tliiiiL;'  \\'illiiiL;" 
to  i-tive  (h'Scri[itioiis  of  their  part  of  tin/  li^ht. 
Kver\-  one  of  them  sfcme(l  to  tliinl-;  lie  liad  t'sca}ie(l 
(h'alli  hv  a  mira(de.  1  don't  rememl)er  alioiit 
the  (h'tails  they  L;a\('  us,  lait  j^ot  tlie  imprt'ssion 
tliat  tliey  liad  Ix'en  hailly  fri^'litened,  and  I  also 
notice(l  that  tlic\-  spola'  moi'e  respt'etfidly  of  the 
"  \'anks  "   than    I    had    vwv  heard  them  l)efore. 

i'hil  east  a  siLj'nitieant  ulancc  at  me.  sayiiin': 

*■• 'J'hey  have  had  what  your  grandfather  \\duld 
call  *  a  ehange  of  heart."  "* 

IMeiuh'rs  A\('nt  hatdv  to  I'eport.  wliile  Phil  and 
1  \\n'nt  h)rwar(l  to  the  fort,  where  we  found  that  it 
was  indeed  true  that  the  garrison  liad  ca[)itulated. 
That  the  houdtardmeut  had  heeu  a  terrible  one  the 
harraeks  ai'ound  the  fort  gave  evidence.  When  we 
en'ei'ed  the  fort,  we  found  that  e\er_ything  that 
could  he  destroyed  hy  heavy  shot  was  in  a  condition 
of  dilapidation  and  wreck. 

At  one  place  there  was  a  hole  in  the  centre 
(pf  the  sand  para[»et,  whicdi,  I  was  told,  was  pro- 
duee(I  l»y  exploding  shell  :  while  on  the  exterior 
slope  there  were  holes  made  in  the  same  man- 
ner. T  ^\■as  told  that  (hiring  the  last  part  of  the 
hondiardment  a  shell  [)assed  througli  the  venti- 
lator of  the  bond)-proof,  and  though  it  did  not  ex- 


OiY    SHORE    AFTER     THE    BATTLE.       189 

pldde  it  kiekrd  up  .siu-li  a  dust  and  smoke  that 
the  utuKtst  eonsteruation  ])revailed  among  the  erowd 
of  ottieers  and  men  who  had  sought  shelter  there  ; 
they  th(Uight  the  magazine  had  eaught  fire. 

From  the  deseri[)ti()n  that  a  sergeant  (the  same 
young  felknv  who  had  taken  charge  of  me  when 
I  was  first  marched  to  the  guard  quarters  by  order 
of  Captain  Ikutou)  gave  me  of  the  effects  of  the 
shell  that  struck  thick  and  fast  in  the  interior  of 
the  fort,  it  must  have  Ijeen  something  terril)le. 

''  What  do  you  think,"  I  said,  ''of  l)eing  able  to 
blow  the  Yankee  ships  out  of  water  now?" 

His  answer  dazed  me. 

*••  'T  wasn't  fair  f"r  3-ou  'n  Yanks  t'  take  all  the 
ships ;  I  reckon  if  we  uns  had  our  share  we  'd 
make  it  right  hot  fo'  you  uns." 

"  Before  this  war  is  over,"  I  said,  ''  I  think  your 
people  ^^■ill  find  they  made  a  mistake  in  supposing 
the  Yankees  w^ould  n't  fight.  I  have  alwaj-s  no- 
ticed that  people  wdio  are  slow  in  getting  angry 
are  more  to  be  feared  than  any  others." 

"•Yoii-uns  can  subdue  we-uns,  but  3'ou-uns  can't 
conquer  we-uns,"  said  the  young  sergeant,  in  his 
high-pitched  Southern  tones,  and  with  tears  in  his 
eyes. 

A  feeling  of  melancholy  came  over  me  when  I 
reflected  on  the  terrible  strife  of  brother  with 
brother,  and  the  blood  that  must  be  spilt  and  the 
suffering  endured,  before  these  people  of  a  com- 
mon language  and  kindred  could  arrive  at  such  an 


too  FATIIKU     Ad.MXST    SOX. 

lUKlerstandiiiL;'  <>l'  llicir  dilTfi't'iiccs  as  to  makt'  a 
scttlcliK'llt  of  tlifiii  [Kissililt'.  Vet  liow  little  did  I, 
or  aii\'  oiu'  else  at  tliat  tiuic.  (•(Hiiprt'iiriid  tlic  iikil;- 
lutndc  to  \\liicli  tlu'  sli'it'i'  \\-as  vft  to  ^tow.  IVt- 
lia[is  it  \\-as  l)ccaus('  1  was  fi|iiall\'  of  Soutln'i'ii  and 
Nortlicni  liiicaL;'*'  that  tin-  strife  seemed  more  tfi'i'i- 
l)le  to  me  tliaii  to  otliei's.  And  then  I  tlion'^lil  of 
m\-  dear  fatlier  amont;'  tliese  nnstalveii  l>ut  lira\e 
{leoph'  w'lio  were  liis  kindre(l  and  ti'iends.  and  won- 
dered how  he  reL;-ar(K'd  \\\\>  fratricidal  strife. 

This  feeliny  was.  howe\'er.  transient,  and  soon 
o'ave  ])laee  to  satisfaetioii  at  seeing-  these  jieople. 
who  had  treate(l  me  witii  l»nt  little  eonsidei'ation, 
and  e\en  witli  insolence,  heaten  and  hinnhle(h 
Ah!  had  I  known,  conid  I  ha\'e  seen  into  tlie  fut- 
\n-e.  1  should  lia\'e  fell  h'ss  satisfaction,  and  }ier- 
liaps  a  degree  of  consternation  at  what  it  lield  h>r 
nie  and  for  those  \\\\u  wvvv  dear  and  near  to  me. 

We  could  s(.'e  steamei's  in  tlie  Sound  black  with 
troo[»s  sent  to  reeidorce  tlie  forts.  These  soldiers 
Mere   evid(Mitly  curicnis   ollsel■^■ers   of    the   lln'ht. 

Their  curiosity  sei'me(l  to  akate  when  the  tug 
"  l^^umv.'"  from  the  fleet,  came  to  the  landing,  for 
\\\v\  hurriedly  left. 

••  You  see."  said  the  young  rekel  sergeant,  in 
tlie  tone  of  one  who  a\  as  grieved.  *•  that  we-uns  ve 
got  a  right  smart  o'  men,  l)ut  you-uns  've  got  all 
the  shi})S,  and  half  'f  'em  hdong  to  us.  I  reckon." 

When  the  "  Faiury  "  came  in  I  went  with  Thil 
to  see   wdio  was  on  hoard. 


ON    sunn/-     AFTER     Tin:    BATTLE.       101 

Among  tlu'  passengers  T  noticed  a  tliiclv'-sct, 
florid-faced  man  in  the  nniform  of  an  oflicei'  in 
the  United  States  ann}-. 

''  That  ol"  feller  with  a  eock  eye  "s  Ben  lUitler," 
said  Blenders,  who  had  come  to  the  wharf  with  ns. 

I  had  often  heard  my  grandfather  speak  of 
lawyer  Ben  Bntler,  and  from  what  I  had  heard  I 
knew  this  to  l)e  the  same  person,  and  henee  re- 
garded him  with  some  curiosity. 

There  was  in  his  face  and  I)earing  a  look  of 
power  and  audacity.  One  of  liis  eyelids  di'ooped 
over  the  eye,  and  when  he  spoke  he  tlu-ew  hack 
his  head  as  if  to  see  the  l)etter  from  under  the  half- 
closed  lid,  and  at  the  same  time  to  em[)hasize  a  re- 
mark. Young  as  I  was,  he  impressed  me  as  one 
who  was  capal)le  of  undertaking  anything  diftieult, 
and  who  delighted  in  attem]^)ting  it.  His  face, 
as  well  as  his  manner,  told  that  he  was  one  Aylio 
could  give  and  take  terrible  blows,  and  rejoice 
in  a  trial  of  strength  and  wits  that  would  daunt 
other  men. 

"  So  that  is  Ben  Butler,"  I  said. 

"•  Y's,"  said  Blenders,  "  an'  y'  don't  want  t'  be 
leanin'  on  t'  him  f'r  a  lamp-post  neither,  cully, 
or  Cock-eye  nearly  ate  up  our  colonel  t'  other  day. 
What  did  he  say?  Well,  I  didn't  hear,  but  I 
heard  ol'  Ben  thump  th'  table,  an'  our  colonel  jist 
a-litin*  out  's  if  th'  hook  an'  lackler  'd  struck  him." 

"  What  was  it  about  ?  "  I  inquired. 

"  Don't  'zac'ly  know,  but  't  was  somethin'  "bout 


l!t-2  FAl'UER    ACIAIXST    Sd.V. 

that  lie  (lid  iTt  like   "t   "cause  nur  (if'ccrs  M  strung 

sonic     "f    till'     lllcll     U})     1>V     til"     t  lllllllllS.  "" 

\Vlicii  the  general  lia<l  Iiccn  tn  the  t'i»rt.  lie  ranie 
down  with  scvci'al  of  his  stal'f,  and  stood  foi'  a  time 
on  the  deck  of  the  "  I'"ann\'."" 

'"I  am  gi>ing  to  s|»cak  to  him.""  1  said. 

••  lU'ttci'  kffp  away  from  him."  said  IMiil  :  "'he 
looks  to  nil'  like  a  frllcr  lliat  would  cat  a  (•ha[i  at 
one  gulp."" 

lint  disregarding  both  IMiihs  and  I')lendei'"s  cau- 
tions, I  A\-ent  n{i  to  him  and  taking  otf  m\-  hat  said, 
*'('an  I  sjteak'  to  \(»n.  general'/"" 

lie  ga\'e  me  a  i'a[>id  and  stern  glance,  and 
looking  down  into  my  face  said  sharpl\-.  "  What 
is  it?""  and  then  added,  "I  don"t  connnand  the 
navy." 

"  I  don"t  l)elong  to  the  navy,  general."'  I  said. 
''I  was  shipwrecked  on  Ifatteras  and  was  made  ii 
prisoner,  and  made  my  escape  in  a  boat  to  the 
stpiadron.      I   want  to  get  home." 

•'Where  do  youl)elong?"  in(^uired  the  general 
in  a  modified  tone. 

"In  ( 'onneetieut.  sir,""  I  replied:  "I  am  the 
grandson  of  Ilezekiah  Perkins,  of  Wichnor.  I  "ve 
heard  him  mention  you — you  were  his  lawyer  in 
a  !)ig  land  ease."" 

The  general  eyed  me  sternly  for  an  instant,  but 
I  met  his  eye  unflinchingly. 

'^  Yes,  yes,"'  he  tinally  said ;  '"  I  remember  him. 
''What  can  I  do  for  vou  ? " 


ON  simni-:  after   the  battle.     10:'. 

'*!  want  to  g'et  lioine  lirst.  and  then  I  want  to 
get  an  appointment  in  the  navy  to  tiglit  for  my 
conntiTi  generaL  I  've  been  a  sailor,  but  I  've  had 
a  good  education/* 

''Well,"  said  the  general,  making  a  few  rapid 
scratches  in  a  note-book,  "T  will  see  what  I  can  do. 
You  and  your  friend  can  go  to  the  flag-ship  with 
me  when  we  go ;  we  shall  be  going  soon  now."' 

In  a  few  minutes  a  group  of  Confederate  officers 
came  to  the  "  Fanny  "  to  visit  the  flag-ship,  and 
tender  their  s;irrender  to  the  flag-officer,  C^ommo- 
dore  Stringham. 

As  I  left  the  "  Fanny  "  I  found  Phil  and  Blen- 
ders ready  to  congratulate  me  on  having,  as  Phil 
said,  '•'•  interviewed  Ben  Butler  and  escaped  with 
my  life  to  tell  the  story."' 

"■  Le  's  look  at  you,"'  said  Phil  laughingly  :  "  are 
you  much  bit  up  ?  " 

I  told  Phil  of  my  interview,  in  a  few  words,  and 
said,  "We  are  to  go  to  the  flag-ship  on  this  boat, 
the  '  Fanny.'  " 

"  You  "ve  got  cheek  'nough  f'r  a  double  row  "f 
teeth  an'  a  high  collar,"'  said  Blenders  admiringly. 
"  So  you  'r'  kitin'  home,  are  you  ?  Well,  I  wish  I 
was  goin'  t'  N'  Yo'k." 

The  last  we  saw  of  Blenders  he  was  resting  one 
shoulder  on  the  spile  of  the  landing,  with  both 
hands  in  his  pockets,  and  with  one  leg  thrown  over 
the  other  in  the  very  attitude  of  a  Bowery  boy  with 
the  blues. 


11)4  FA  III  III!     AdMXST    So.X. 

We  were  soon  oii  the  'leclv  of  the  liucj'e  •■  Miniie- 
sola,'"  wliicli  wr  t'oiiiel  to  Ix'  a  iiia^iiilied  ('(litioii  of 
the  '•  Moiitict'Uo  ""  ill  clcaiiliiiess  and  neatness. 

And  licre  I  found  inxsclf  face  to  face  \\-itli  (xen- 
eral  Ihitlci'.  lie  L;a\''  mt'  ;i  scn'ci'c  look,  and  then, 
\\itlioiit  a  Word  (o  inc.  tiiinc(l  and  lookc(l  IMiil  o^"er 
from  hcail  \i  >  fool,  and  said  : 

'•  AVliat  jiosition  do  yoii  liold  in  tlic  ]'cl)el  army, 
and  how  came  \dn  here  '/  "" 

•"This  is  ni\-  cliiim.  L;'cncral.""  I  sai(h  "  lie  is  n't 
a  i-clx'l  :  lie  e\chanL;-e(l  liis  I'a^'u'ed  suit  for  that  one, 
\\liich  he  h)iiiid  at  the  fort."" 

*■^'ou"ll  do.""  said  tlu'  n'eiiei-al.  with  a  grim 
smih'.  "  \'ou  '\(.'  l)eL;aiii  reprisals  ali'cady.""  and  with 
this   remark  he  went  to  the  commodore's  caltin. 

After  standiiiL;'  around  on  the  decl-;  for  a  while 
admiriiiL;'  the  neatness  and  order  that  prevailed 
ever\\\  here,  A\'e  Aveie  eoinhicted  hy  a  petty  officer 
to   our  temporary   (piarters. 

The  next  uiorniny  early  we  were  on  deck,  and 
at  ahout  ten  o"(do(dv  wei'e  summoned  to  the  com- 
modore's ofhce,  where  we  found  (ieneral  r)utler  and 
Flay-oi'ticei'  Strin^ham.  And  here  also,  to  nn'  sur- 
prise, 1  found  John  Nixon,  just  leaving-  the  cabin. 

The  conniio(h)re  was  a  stately,  elderly  man  with 
tlie  manner  of  one  accustomed  to  eonnnand,  but  at 
the  same  time  very  gentlemanly.  The  commodore 
nodded  to  the  general,  as  nnich  as  to  say,  (lo  on  ; 
and  the  general  proceedtnl  to  })ut  a  few  sliarp 
in(j[uiries  about  John  Xixon,  and  made  me  tell  my 


Oy    SlfcRK    AFTEll     I'llE    BATTLi:.        VX) 

story  of  iK'ing-  cast  away,  and  also  our  esra[)e  from 
the  rebels.  I  inferreil  that  some  doul)ts  had  been 
entertained  of  John's  relial)ility  and  loyalty,  for  one 
of  the  (piestions  asked   was  : 

"  What  was  the  occupation  of  John  Nixon  while 
3'ou  were  with  him  ?  '" 

''  Fishing,"  said  Phil,  ^''  and  dodging  around  to 
keep  out  of  tlie  way  of  the  rebs."' 

Phil's  re[)ly  provoked  a  smile,  and  then  the  gen- 
eral gave  him  a  stare  from  under  his  drooping  eye- 
lids, and  proceeded  to  cross-examine  him  and  me, 
occasionally  turning  his  face  to  the  commodore 
as  if  to  call  his  attention  to  some  answer  of  ours. 
His  (piestions  were  so  sharp,  and  at  times  savage, 
that  I  felt,  as  Phil  said  when  we  got  out  of  the 
cabin,  "  If  I  'd  had  anything  on  ]ny  conscience 
I  \1  been  scared."  As  we  came  on  deck  we  met 
John  again,  and  were  told  by  him  that  he  Avas  just 
going  to  see  General  Butler  once  more. 

In  a  short  time  w^e  met  John  in  a  highly  elated 
mood. 

"  That  Ben  Butler  is  a  right  good  man,  give  me 
these,"  said  John,  showing  us  two  golden  half- 
eagles  ;  "•  said  I  earned  'em  yesterday ;  an'  he  give 
me  this  letter  to  Colonel  Hawkins,  an'  says  he  '11 
give  me  regular  pay  to  pilot  an'  t'  find  Avhat  th' 
rebs  's  doin'." 

We  shook  hands  with  the  dear  fellow  and  sent 
our  respects  to  his  wife,  and  our  thanks  for  all  she 
had  done  for  us. 


lOG 


FArilKR    AnAIXST    SON. 


Our  voyage  (o  Ilimi[)t(iii  IJoads  was  uuevontful, 
cxct'})!  that  ill  ()l)S('i'\iriL;-  tin'  drill  and  seamanship 
Mil  hoard  we  iK-eaiiK'  infatuated  with  life  on  a 
lllan-of-\^'ar. 

( )n  our  arii\al  at  Fort  Monroe  we  were,  throuo-li 
llie  kindness  of  (ieiieral  Uiitler.  L;'i\en  transporta- 
tion pa[)ers  fur  Wiehnor,  hy  the  way  of  Washing- 
ton. 


noMi:.  swiiET  Home.  1!>" 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


HO^IE,    8AVEET    HOME. 


The  trip  to  Washington  was  made  by  night,  and 
we  passed  through  the  city  the  next  morning  so 
qiiiekly  tliat  we  saw  hnt  little  of  it,  except  the  mud 
through  which  we  wallowed,  and  some  of  its  sliarp 
contrasts  of  sfjualid  suburbs,  and  classic  and  im- 
mense public  buildings. 

Xothing  that  concerns  our  story  occurred  until 
we  reached  Baltimore,  Avdiere,  after  having  crossed 
the  city  from  one  station  to  another,  we  found  our- 
selyes  obliged  to  w^ait  for  a  train  before  proceeding 
to  New  York.  While  here  an  incident  occurred 
which  came  near  placing  Phil  and  me  under  lock 
and  key. 

It  will  l)e  remembered  that  Phil  was  dressed  in 
Confederate  uniform,  while  I  wore  the  uniform  of 
the  United  States  nayy,  and  that  we  wore  tliese 
because  we  had  Jio  other  clothing  or  money  to 
purchase  any. 

While  Phil  and  I  sat  in  the  waiting-room  chat- 
ting and  reading  a  newspaper,  a  thick-set,  roughly- 
dressed  man  came  up  to  us,  and  gras[)ing  both  Phil 
and  me  by  the  collar,  said  in  sharp,  peremptory 
tones,  ''  Here,  come  with  me,  I  want  you,"  and 
with  this  began  to  drag  us  away. 


10s  FA  Tin: II    AdAlXST    SOX. 

"  Will  yoii  [ilcasc  tell  lis  what  we  liavc  done, 
sir'/""  I  said  as  ivsjicct  fully  as  I  could.  To  this 
ivasoualik'  iu(|uir\'  he  ,L;':ivt'  a  roun'h  I'fjoindci'. 
whcrfUiMui  I  hc^aii  to  resist,  ^\'ll<'n  he  siia|i|HMl  a 
pail' of  haiidcuiVs  on  iii\  wrists,  and.  IMdl.  who  u[» 
to  that  time  had  made  no  resistance,  wreiiehril  hiiu- 
sclf  loose  and  ran  awav. 

••We  are  on  our  w"a\'  hoiiie.  our  transportation 
pa])ers  are  here.""  I  said.  indicatiuL;-  where.  He 
thi'ust  his  hand  into  my  pocket  and  seized  the 
}»apers,  and  without  lookiuL;'  at  them  transferred 
them    to   his   own. 

••  Will  \du  please  look  at  those  [ia[)ers.  and  let 
me  know  xoiir  authority  for  arrestini;'  me'/'"  I  sai(L 

••I'll  show  you  my  authority."  lie  said,  with  a 
sa\aL;'e  }iiill  at  my  handcuffed  wrists,  at  \\'hicli  I 
cried  out  and  l>ee.an  to  resist  with  all  my  sttd)l)orn- 
ness  and  strength. 

The  scene  hy  this  time  had  caused  (ptite  a  ntiniher 
of  persons  to  gather  around,  and  to  them  1  ap})ealed, 
Avhen  the  hrute  struck  me  a  stagyerinn'  blow  with 
his  list. 

Two  men  in  the  uniform  of  the  navy  had  lyy  tliis 
time  come  up.  and  one  of  them  said,  in  very  (jtiiet 
l)ut  (h'cided  tones.  '"AVhat  is  all  this  about'/  " 

"  I  am  a  (kdeetive,  this  man  is  a  deserter,  that"s 
what  "s  the  matter."  said  my  ca[)tor  sarcastically, 
fa.cing  with  me  the  men  wdio  wore  the  navy  l)lue. 
As  my  face  was  turned  to  them  I  at  once  recognized 
the  officer. 


'TAKE    THOSE    HANDCUFFS    Orp    "THAT    YCJK. 


\N'S    'PRISTS 


HOME.    SWEET    HOME.  l!»0 

"Mr.  Beli:  Mr.  lU'll!"'  I  cried  out,  -you  kuow 
me.  That  uian  lias  takeu  away  the  transportation 
papers  given  us  ;  we  are  just  going  home  I  "* 

The  detective  was  just  al)Out  to  strike  nie 
again,  when   Mr.  Bell  said  : 

''  Xo  more  of  that,  sir  I  I  am  a  naval  officer,  and 
if  you  have  any  warrant  for  his  arrest  I  would  like 
to  see  it." 

'•'•  I  am  on  the  lookout  for  such  men,"  said  the 
detective,  "and  don't  have  a  warrant;  don't  need 
one." 

"  I  know  this  man,"  said  Mr.  Bell,  ''  and  will  he 
responsible  for  him." 

"■  I  don't  know  you,"  said  the  self-styled  detec- 
tive, "  and  for  all  I  know  you  may  be  a  deserter 
yourself." 

"I  think  you  know  me,  though,"  said  Mr.  Bell's 
companion,  now  pushing  himself  in  front  of  the 
detective. 

The  ruffian's  face  fell  as  he  abjectly  stannnered 
out,  "I  didn't  know  you,  sir,  I  —  I  " — 

"  Take  those  handcuffs  off  that  young  man's 
wrists ;  restore  those  papers ;  now  apologize  to 
this  officer." 

This  Avas  uttered  in  a  tone  of  stern  authority,  and 
the  detective,  whose  manner  at  once  had  become 
changed,  said: 

"  There  's  been  so  many  deserters  since  the  bat- 
tle of  Bull  Run  that  we  've  liad  to  be  a  little  rough, 
and  arrest  men  on  suspicion  ;  there  was  no  offence 


2(10 


I\[T]I]:i;    AdAlNST    ><ox. 


iiitriidcd  to  \(nir  tVifii(].  and  I  liojn'  lir  will  jiass  l>v 
iii\'  i'(iii;_;liiic>s.      I'crliaps  I  am  a  little  too  zealous."" 

'■  Now  \oii  liaxc  a|ioloL;i/.fd.  take  yourself  off: 
and  if  1  do  catcli  you  at  anytliiiiL;'  like  tliis  work 
ai^-ain.  I  will  make  it  my  duty  to  see  you  taken 
care   of.""   said   tlie  ollieer. 

The  l)rute  sluidv  away  like  a  wln[(ped  eur.  I 
tlianke<|  the  oflicer  f(»r  his  timely  interference,  and 
also  thaid<ed  Mr.  \\A\. 

••  AVe  thought  you  were  dead,"*  said  Phil,  who 
had  keen  standing'  in  the  crowd,  hut  who  now 
came  up  to  shak'e  hands  \\\{\\  Mi'.  IJell.  This  was 
the  first  that  lie  had  seen  of  Phil  (at  this  time), 
and  he  was  at  a  loss  to  kixiw  who  he  was:  hut 
when  he  recognized  him  he  shook  hands  \\\X\v  hiiu 
ver\-  heartily,  and  said  : 

•'  I  would  as  soon  have  expected  to  see  a  ghost 
as  to  see  either  of  you.  As  you  said  to  me,  I 
thought     \'ou    were    hoth    drowned."" 

\\'e  told  our  storv  in  hrief.  and  ex}ilained  liow  it 
was  that  we  weri'  not  in  citizen's  dress. 

It  turned  out  that  Mr.  P>ell  was  waitino-  foj-  the 
same  train  to  New  York  that  we  were,  and  that  his 
friend  liad  come  to  the  station  with  him  to  see  him 
off. 

^Ir.  Pxdks  friend  spoke  very  kindly  to  us  hefore 
leaving,  and  to  my  surprise  addressed  Mr.  Bell  as 
lieutenant. 

AVe  were  so  delighted  to  get  out  of  our  serape, 
and  at  the  same   time  to  meet  our  former  second 


HOME,    SWIll'/r    JJUMI:.  201 

mate,  tliat  our  joy  more  thai\  eoiuiterl)alaiieed  our 
former  elian'rin. 

On  our  wdv  to  New  York  we  sat  together. 

"We  thought  you  wi-re  drowned.**  I  again  said 
to  him,  "  though  we  heard  at  C'liicamaeomieo  that 
one  man  was  saved  from  the  wrecd-:,  and  that  an- 
other man  had  eonie  ashore  in  a  hoat,  and  A\'e 
thought  that  man  may  have  been  the  Irishman 
we  called  Blarney.*' 

"•  The  one  that  was  saved  from  the  wreck  was 
I,**  said  Mr.  Bell,  "and  the  other  man  I  think  was 
Blarnev-  He  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  service, 
and  as  I  was  acquainted  with  one  of  the  officers  at 
the  forts  I  Avas  allowed  to  ship  on  board  an  Eng- 
lish vessel  bound  for  Halifax,  and  from  tliere  got 
back  to  the  States.  Through  the  influence  of  the 
friend  you  saw  Avith  me  at  Baltimore,  I  have  been 
ap[iointed  a  volunteer  officer  in  the  navy."" 

"  How  was  it  that  you  got  ashore  ? "'  I  inquired. 
"  We  saw  you  reach  the  l)reakers,  but  that  was  the 
last  we  saw  of  you." 

He  told  us  that  he  had  been  stunned  and  dazed 
by  being  dashed  against  a  piece  of  timber  just 
before  reaching  the  surf,  but  had  instinctively  kept 
himself  afloat  while  being  swept  here  and  there  at 
the  mercy  of  the  waves,  and  when  just  about  to 
give  up,  a  piece  of  plank  that  had  floated  from  the 
brig  struck  against  him ;  this  he  grasped  with  the 
tenacity  of  a  drowning  man,  and  finally  threw  him- 
self across  it.     After  this  he  remembered  but  little 


202  FATUIJl    AdAIXXT    Soy. 

until  soiiu'  men  witli  a  boat  I'cscnt'd  him  at  the 
inlet,  ^\•llel■e  the  tide,  lie  was  t(ihl.  liad  })rohal)ly 
eari'ied  liim.  Idie  men  wlio  liad  I'escued  him 
assnre(|  him  that  tlie  liri^;'  liad  L;('ne  tn  pieres.  and 
that  iKiUe  i>]\  lioai'd  had  l)eeii  saved:  they  tool-;  liim 
til  ( 'hicamacdmicd.  and  t'nim  thence  to  Hattei'as 
hdet. 

(  )n  our  ai'i'i\al  in  New  York,  Mr.  Hell  insistiMl 
on  h'ndiii!.;'  eacli  of  us  mone\-  enoUL;li  to  })ureliase 
a  L^ood  suit  of  rlothes.  I  sai(h  '•  ^\^■  ha\H'  friends 
at  home  wlio  are  not  |»(tor.  and  we  shall  he  witli 
tiiem  to-mori'ow'."" 

"•  It  is  heeause  \du  will  he  anioiiL;'  friends  soon 
that  I  insist  on  leiidiuL;'  \'ou  enoUL;'h  money  for  that 
|iUi-])ose,""  said  Ml',  liell.  '"  Vou  suredv  won't  re- 
fuse to  accept  a  small  favoi'  from  \"oui'  shipmate. 
If  a  man  e\cr  ni'eds  to  ap[)ear  in  L;()od  divss  it  is 
anioiiL;-  friends." 

So  he  went  ^^'ith  us  to  a  (dothin^'diouso  and  sjient 
a  half-hour  in  littiny  eatdi  of  us  with  a  neat  tdtizen's 
suit. 

After  this  he  aecom})anied  us  to  the  Wiclmor 
boat,  and  upon  my  ri'marking-  that  he  seemed  very 
familiar  with  the  city  he  readied: 

"Yes:  I  used  to  live  here.  Some  of  the  pleas- 
antest  and  some  of  the  saddest  liours  of  my  life 
have  l)een  spent  here  :  and  I  am  here  now  to  make 
inquiries  regarding  ptM)ple  \'ery  dear  to  me."' 

lie  sliook  hands  with  us  in  a  very  ph^isant  man- 
ner, and  wished  us  all  kinds  of  good  fortune.      "  I 


HOME.    SWRET    TI(?ME.  203 

am  o'lad  to  have  nu't  you  a^'ain,"  he  said,  ''and  if 
I  can  l)e  of  any  use  to  you  hereafter,  let  nie 
know." 

The  steamer  had  started  when  it  occurred  to  us 
that  we  had  neglected  to  get  our  former  mate's 
address,  in  order  to  repay  him  tlie  money  loaned  us. 
We  were  vexed  at  ourselves  for  our  thoughtless 
neglect,  and   Phil   exclaimed : 

"'  That 's  just  our  luck,  as  soon  as  we  got  track 
of  him  to  lose  sight  of  liim  again.  I  never  saw  a 
man  I  liked  so  well  exce[)t  your  father,  and  Mr. 
Bell  lias   some  ways  that  are  just    like  his."' 

When  we  awoke  in  the  morning  and  went  on 
deck  we  found  the  hoat  op[iosite  Rivermouth.  not 
many  miles  from  our  home.  .Vs  we  came  in  sight 
of  Wichnor.  its  houses  nestling  among  the  foliage 
far  upon  the  heights,  or  on  a  level  wath  the  river, 
and  its  churches  and  public  Ijuildings  gilded  by 
the  rays  of  the  morning  sun,  made  a  scene  more 
beautiful  than  words  can  express.  I  tried  to  say 
something  of  this  to  Phil,  lait  my  words  clioked 
me,  and  the  tears  started  to  my  eyes  unljidden. 
I  then  saw  that  there  were  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  I 
knew  he  understood   me. 

And  then  (my  heart  sank  at  the  thought)  sup- 
pose something  has  happened  to  mother  during 
these  months  since  I  last  heard  from  home.  But 
this  thought  I  did  not  long  retain,  for,  youth-like, 
I  thought  that  what  I  wished  nuist  be. 

As  we  neared  the  wharf  Phil  said  : 


204  FA  Til  FA!    AGAINST    SON. 

'•IIcz,  there's  tlie  place  \\liei'e  I  pulled  von  out 
(if  tlie  water  yeai's  aij;'(),  and  there's  Aour  ^randjia's 
house,  —  and,  by  (ieoi'^'e.  we  are  almost  in  I  It 
seems  a  thousand  years  since  we  left  the  dear 
[)laee." 

We  laniled  and  made  our  wa\"  thi'oUL;'h  the 
sti't'cls.  It  was  early  moi'inn^-  and  hut  fe\\"  of  the 
people  were  yet  mo\  in^'. 

We  were  not  iiioi'e  than  lialf-wa\"  up  tlu-  stivet 
—  I  say  ••  u}) ""  advisedly,  foi'the  ascent  of  the  sti'eet 
was  as  stee}i  as  the  r(»of  of  a  lionsc — when  M"e 
saw    \'a_L;'  nosiuL;'  around   in   a   neii;hl)orini4-  \-ard. 

T  jiut  my  tinkers  to  my  mouth  and  L;ave  a  sharp 
and  [lecnliar  whistle  \\\{\\  which  I  was  accustomed 
to  call  him.  I  le  sto})[ie(l  and  looh'cd  around  in  a 
surjirised  and  thou^'htful  maimer,  as  if  he  could 
not  l)(die\'e  his   eai's,  and  then    resunuMl  his  nosing'. 

"Here,  X^a^',"  \  called,  and  he  came  like  a  shot 
out  of  the  yard  and  IooIvimI  up  and  down  the  street, 
snuffed  the  air  \\'ith  a  foolish,  suspicious  look,  as  if 
to  say  : 

"That  sounds  like  Ilez  Johnstone,  but  most 
likely   I  am  bein^'   fooled." 

Phil  and  I  both  burst  into  laughter  at  Vag's  look 
of  comical  suspicion  and  amazement,  at  hearing 
wdiicli,  as  if  it  dispelled  all  doubts,  he  came  l)ound- 
ing  u})on  us.  whining  and  yelping  with  the  greatest 
deliglit,  and  then  ran  in  eir(des  arouml  us,  bai'king 
in  the  most  extravagant  maimer. 

He  had  not  ceased  these  antics  when  we  readied 


HOME.    SWEET    HOME.  205 

the  stone  stei)s  tliat  led  to  grandfather's  lionse,  and 
my  mother  eame  to  the  ()[ten  door  to  see  what  was 
ihe  matter.  She  ran  down  the  steps  to  greet  ns. 
l-'iir  the  time  lier  eool  New  Enghmd  reserve  was 
thoronghly  thawed,  and  she  cried  and  hmghed  in 
tlie  same  breath. 

She  had  received  the  evening  before  a  letter  that 
I  mailed  to  her  at  Fort  Monroe.  She  had  also  seen 
an  account  of  the  wreck  of  the  "  Favorite,"  in 
which  it  was  said  that  all  on  board  perished  except 
two  persons. 

The  months  that  passed  until  she  heard  from 
me  had  l)een  sorrowd'ul  ones  for  my  poor  mother, 
though  she  had  insisted   that  I  was  still  alive. 

My  grandfather,  whose  icy  exterior  very  seldom 
showed  emotions,  was  quite  demonstrative  for  him. 

He  held  out  both  hands,  which  trembled  as  he 
said : 

"  My  dear  boy,  it  does  me  more  good  to  see  you 
than  —  than  —  ten  thousand  dollars ;  yes,  and  I  "m 
glad  to  see  you  too,  Philip." 

While  at  breakfast  we  told  the  outlines  of  our 
story,  and  especially  dwelt  upon  that  part  of  our 
experience  which  related  to  the  battle  at  Hatteras 
Inlet,  and  our  interview  with  General  Butler  and 
the  admiral  of  the  war  squadron. 

"•  You  were  pretty  l)right  to  get  out  of  it  alive," 
said  grandfather.  "  Yes,  I  call  it  pretty  smart. 
Hez,  you  've  got  some  of  the  Perkins  push  in  ye  I 
guess,  and  will  make  your  way  in  life." 


"201 ; 


F.\TlIi:i!     ACMXS'r    SOX. 


■•  (^)uitc  ;i  iIkiw.""  said  I'liil.  winkiiiL;-  at  iiii-  aftt-r 
i;'raii(lt'atli('r  had  L;iiiir  dUl.  "-If  smiuc  of  the  folks 
aroinid  litTc  (•(  luld  liavc  licard  him  tlit-v  woidd  haw 
lli(iU'4ht  him  cra/.x"."" 

l-^\i'ii  m\  mutlicr.  who  oxcrhcard  tliis  remark. 
hiil;4li(M|  and  said  : 

"  \'oiir  L^raiidtallicr  has  L;'nt  fcfliii^s.  lnu  he  doii"t 
show  tlicm  ol'lfii  :  he  fell  [irctly  had  wlieii  he 
thought    \(>ii    wi'rc   di'ow  1H'(1."" 

It  wa^  rfilaiid\"  a  rccomjiciise  for  mv  liai'dshi}is 
and  snllrriiiLis  to  reccixc  snch  a  xx'tdconu'  lionu.'.  and 
it  was  all  the  more  a[)]ireeiatiMl  heeanse  it  was  in 
contrast  with  the  treatment  we  had  tifteii  reeeiveil 
while  ahsent.  It  enal)le(l  me  to  see  the  dit'ferenee 
hetweeii  tliose  who  were  aetnated  hy  real  affection 
for  me  and  tliose  wlio  wei'e  indifferent. 

After  liieal'chist  L;randhither  and  IMhl  went  down- 
town, and  in\' mother  and  Iliad  a  Ioiil;'.  alfeetioiiate, 
and  conlideiitial  talk. 

I  mentioned  that  I  had  lieard  al)out  my  i'utlier  at 
Newheriie,  when  ^he.  to  in\'  sur]>rise,  said  she  liad 
reeeiveil  se\eral  letters  from  him  while  I  had 
l.)een  altseiit.  The  tirst  of  these  was  (kited  shortly 
after  I  left  home,  and  in  it  he  said,  •'  I  have  writ- 
ten se\'eral  letters  to  whiidi  I  lia.ve  reci'ived  no 
answer,"  ami  then  meiitioiu'il  sendini;'  a  draft  0:1 
New  ^'ork  for  a  hnndred  dollars:  he  sai<l  that  the 
peo})le  were  distrustful  of  those  who  had  Xortlu-rn 
correspondents,  and  he  sometimes  thounht  the  mails 
were  tampered  with.      In  anuthei'  letter  he  s[)oke 


HO  mi:,   sweet  home.  207 

of  the  growing  bad  feeling  against  the  North,  whicli 
was  l)eing  fostered  for  political  })nrposes.  and  inci- 
dentallv  spoke  of  the  secession  sentiment  as  "'a 
craze  of  an  honr  which  will  soon  die  ont."'  He 
farther  mentioned  the  bitter  feeling  against  North- 
ern sympathizers,  as  those  Avere  styled  who  said  a 
word  in  defence  of  Northern  people,  and  said  that 
liehadl)een  ol)liged  to  be  carefnl  in  order  not  to  be 
phiced  in  a  position  of  antagonism  to  those  aronnd 
him.  In  another  letter  lie  said  that  at  his  father's 
earnest  wish  he  had  accepted  the  captainc}'  of  a 
military  company  that  had  l)een  formed  in  the 
connty.  The  next  letter  was  dated  after  tlie  attack 
on  Sumter,  and  in  it  he  deplored  the  growing  senti- 
ment ill  favor  of  secession,  in  North  Carolina.  In 
this  letter  was  enclosed  a  draft  on  New  York. 

The  next  letter  had  been  written  just  after  the 
secession  of  the  State.  In  it  he  said  there  was 
talk  of  calling  the  regiment  to  which  he  belonged 
into  the  service  for  active  duty ;  l)ut  he  was  confi- 
dent the  l)etter  sense  of  the  people  would  prevail, 
and  that  there  would  be  no  bloodshed,  and  added, 
"  If  there  is  fighting  I  must  go  with  my  people." 

This  Avas  the  last  letter  received  from  my  dear 
father.  There  had  never  been  any  ex[)lanation  of 
what  had  become  of  the  letters  written  by  him  that 
my  mother  had  failed  to  receive. 

After  reading  these  letters  \  said  :  "  I  am  afraid 
there  has  been  a  conspiracy  to  draw  father  into  a 
position  where  he  cannot  retreat  without  dishonor, 


ilOS 


i-.[Tiii:n   .if.'AixsT  soy. 


aiiil  lliiit  (lie  rcasdii  fur  iiit(.'i'cr[)tiiiL;'  liis  lettrrs  was 
to  liirtliiT  tliat  plan,  and  ])(>ssil)l\-  to  liriiiL;'  altout  a 
l)r('acli  Itctwccii  liiin  and  \(»ii."" 

'riic  next  day.  wdiilc  IMiil  and  I  wci't' (lowii-towii, 
a  tall  I't'lldw  in  a  sli(i(d<innl\'  ill-littiiiL;'  suit  of  rni(_)ii 
Idiic  l)l(ic];f(l  oui'  WAY  on  tlif  sidewalk,  saving'  as 
lie  extended  his  hand,"  I  low  he  \-e '■' "  and  then  we 
knew  hy  the  X'oicethat  it  was  Jim  liishee.  ■"  Wal,'" 
s.dd  he.  ••  they  (hi  tell  nie  that  \'ou  an"  I'hil  (iuiiev 
'v"  lied  jiei'ils  liy  lain]  an*  sea.  An"  1  see  h\-  tli' 
niornin"  paper  that  y"  thiid>:  o"  o'oiiT  int'  th'  navy. 
Wal,  I  don't  lilame  ^'e  l'"r  Iiein'  a  patriot.  —  I  'in  one. 
tu,  —  hnt  then  I  could  n't  stan"  it  t'  he  killed  an' 
hev  my  stomach  turne(l  to]iside-tui'vy  all  't  the 
same  time.  Iladn't  \'"  hetter  soi-t  o'  I'eeonsider 
the  motion,  as  they  say  in  taoun  meetin"  '/  Xaow 
we've  !4ot  a  han^-up  ri^'imint,  an'  mavhe  ^■e 'd  ^it 
t'  1)6  a  eor[)oral  "I'  y'  jined  us." 

The  thinn'  that  interested  me  in  . I  im's  conversa- 
tion was  that  he  intimated  th.it  we  had  L;dt  into 
the  pa[)ers. 

'•  I  low  did  the  iiewspa})ei'  know  anythini;-  alxmt 
lis,  -lim  ?  "  I  asked. 

''Why,  the  hull  taoun  "s  talkin"  "haout  ye.  P'r- 
haps  (lurley  e'n  tell  ye  haow  th"  pa[)ers  got  hold  on 
't,"  said  Jim,  as  he  winked  at  Phil  and  walked  off. 

"Well,"  confessed  Phil.  "I  didn't  know  that  I 
was  talking  for  print,  hnt  a  fellow  talked  to  me  at 
the  store,  and  tliey  told  mv  afterwards  that  he  was 
a  reporter  on  the  ■  Messenger.'  '' 


HOME,    SWEET    HOME.  209 

When  I  had  got  tlie  pa[)er  I  found  a  cohiinii  of 
matter  under  a  l)in"  searediead,  giving  an  account 
of  our  adventures,  and  especially  detailing  our  con- 
nection with  tlie  tight  at  Hatteras  Inlet. 

On  reading  it  I  said  to  Phil :  ''  That  news[)aper 
man  seems  to  have  pumped  you  pretty  dry." 

"  Yes,"  said  Phil  sheepishly,  ''  and  he  did  it  as 
slick  as  pulling  a  cork  from  a  l^ottle.  I  had  n't 
any  idea  that  I  was  being  interview"ed.  He  did  n't 
say  much,  but  he  seemed  so  awfully  interested  that 
I  let  myself  go." 

Phil,  at  this,  looked  so  distressed  that  I  laughed 
in  spite  of  my  disposition  to  be  provoked  and 
annoyed. 

On  our  way  about  the  town  we  met  the  Hon. 
Whitcome  Oute,  who  shook  hands  with  us  as  if  we 
were  his  dearest  friends. 

I  was  much  pleased  at  the  notice  of  so  distin- 
guished a  man,  and  told  grandfather  of  it. 

''  That 's  just  like  Whit  Cute,"  said  he.  "  Ten 
chances  to  one  he  didn't  know  you,  though.  I 
was  talking  with  him  a  day  or  two  since,  when  a 
chap  with  a  load  of  wood  from  Bean  ^^alley  stopped 
to  say  ^  How  do  ye  do '  to  him.  Well,  to  see  Whit 
shake  hands  with  him  you  would  certainly  have 
thought  they  were  the  clearest  friends.  And  then 
Whit  said,  '  I  'm  busy  just  now,  but  call  around  to 
my  office  and  we  '11  talk  over  old  times.'  After 
the  man  had  left  he  said  to  me,  '  Perkins,  who  was 
that  old  chap  ?  ' 


L>1  (I 


FMIIFJI    AdAIXST    SON. 


'••  Villi  sec.""  swivasticallv  cliiicklcfl  ^Taiidfatlier, 
'•  lliat  "s  part  of  a  jiiililic  iiiaiTs  stocl-:  in  trade:  lir 
has  ti)  prctcinl  In  Iximw'  cNtTxlKKly. 

^•Tlif  |iifcc  ill  tlic  [lajK-f."  said  lie.  ••  won't  do 
you  aii\  lianii  and  iiia\' d(»  vou  niori'  L;'(>iid  than  \(Ui 
thiid\  till-.  l*nlilic  iiumi  like  to  lRd[t  thosu  who 
lia\c    hcfii    noticed    in    the   jiapcrs."' 

Al'tci-  tliis  1  (h'li'ctcd  him  niailiiiL;-  to  dil'lV-rciit 
[icrsons  copies  ol'  the  pajier  tliat  eoiitained  tliis 
leleienee   to    Phil  and   nie. 


IN    THE    .V.ll^}'.  211 


CHAPTER    XViri. 


IN    THE    NAVY. 


At  the  time  of  wliirli  I  write,  the  attention  of 
the  conntry  was  direeted  to  the  Army  of  tlie 
Potomac.  tJK'n  heing  organized  l)y  (ieiieral  (leorge 
B.  MeC'kdlan.  It  was  expected  that  it  wonld 
soon  wipe  ont  the  disgrace  and  retrieve  the  disas- 
ter of  the  defeat  at  lUiIl  Pnn,  which  had  humiliated 
Northern  pride  and  correspondingly  encouraged  the 
insurgent  South.  But  little  public  attention  was 
given  to  our  navy,  and  wliile  our  j-oiuig  and 
adventurous  men  crowded  to  enlist  in  our  armies 
there  was  not  a  corresponding  enthusiasm  to  serve 
on  the  sea. 

On  the  other  hand,  a  large  number  of  trained 
officers  of  Southern  birth  had  left  our  service  to 
cast  their  lot  with  the  Confederacy,  while  those 
seamen  who  had  returned  from  stations  al)road, 
and  whose  terms  of  enlistment  had  expired,  were 
ini[)atient  to  be  discharged  to  enjoy  that  shore  lib- 
erty —  and  to  spend  their  money  in  a  manner  dear  to 
a  sailor's  heart.  Cwing  to  these  I'easons  there  was 
an  unusual  opportunity  for  well-educated  young 
men  to  rise  in  the  naval  service,  and  Grandfather 
Perkins,  fcjreseeing  this,  exhibited  unusual  interest 


■2^■l 


FA  riiiiii   A(;a/xst  soy. 


ill  rii(lc;i\'()iiii^'  to  L;t't  IMiil  and  nic  in  :i  position 
to  Itc  adxaiiccd  tlicrcin.  Tlic  lion.  Wliitconif 
Cute  liad  adxiscd  that  wr  sliould  cndraNur  to 
])ass  an  cxainiiiat  ion  in  order  to  entiT  an  ad\aiiccd 
(dass  at  tlic  Annapolis  Xa\al  Scliodl.  wliri'c.  it'  wc 
wci'c  al)lf  to  ]iass  sncli  an  rxaniinat ion.  we  slioidd. 
after  reiiiainiiiL;'  a  \-eai'  or  more.  ilonl)lless  recei\c 
apjHiintnients  as  niidsliijinien.  and  also  start  witli 
(lie  ad\"antaL;'e  of  a  teelinical  edneation  in  na\al 
affairs.  lint  tliis  sound  ad\iee  receixcd  Unt  little 
attention  from  two  iieadsti'on^'  l)o\s.  and  (irand- 
fatliei'  Terkins  was  not  a  L;i'eat  lieliex'ei'  in  wliat 
lie  seoi'iifidh"  ealled  liook-learnin^' :  lie  l)elii'\'e(l 
that  practice  is  superior  to  theory,  and.  as  he 
termed  it.  ■•one  niontli  in  the  iia\y.  in  time  of 
war.  would  be  better  schooliiiij;'  for  N'oun^'  men 
than   all    tlie   naval    academies   in    the    woi'ld."' 

While  this  view-  accorded  well  with  the  desii'es 
of  both  I'liil  and  myself,  it  was  not  by  any  means  a 
correct  one.  Udie  tlieor\-  taug'ht  by  professors  in 
S(di()ols  is,  after  all.  but  the  I'esnlt  of  the  knowledn'e 
wlii(di  others  lia\c  gained  b\-  practical  experience 
and  often  by  ""hard  knoidx's."  After  accpiiriuL;'  the 
theory  through  books,  practice  (piicdcly  transmutes 
it  into  tlu'  o-old  of  real   jiractical  knowded^'c. 

I  do  not  remember  (if  1  ever  knew)  just  how 
it  came  about,  but  in  December,  by  advice  of 
o'randfatliei',  who  no  (loul)t  bad  been  advised  l)y 
some  one  else.  IMiil  and  I  took  tlie  boat  tor  Xew 
York,  and    on    the    (kiv  of    our  arrival    w^ent  over 


IN    THE    XA  VY.  213 

to  the  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard  and  enlisted  in  the 
navy. 

From  thence,  after  remaining  on  board  the  receiv- 
ing-ship for  a  short  time,  we  were  drafted  and  sent 
to  the  "  Congress,"  then  lying  ;it  Newport  Xews. 
^"a.,    guarding    the    mouth    of    the    James    Kivcr. 

We  arrived  there  the  first  of  January  in  LSli.:. 
and  were  sent  at  once  on  board  the  '*  Congress." 

On  arriving  on  board,  we  reported  to  the  exei'U- 
tive  officer,  Lieut.  Joseph  B.  Smith. 

We  were  dressed  in  the  becoming  l)lue  uniform 
of  United  States  sailors,  and  as  we  saluted  lie  looked 
up  pleasantly  and  said,  in  his  deep  mellow  tones  : 

'•'•  So  you  have  come  to  l)e  sailors,  have  you  ?  "' 

I  replied  that  I  was  hoping  to  become  something 
besides  a  common  sailor. 

"  Well,"  he  replied  gravely,  ''  if  you  did  n't  expect 
to  become  anything  better,  I  would  advise  you  to 
jump  overboard  at  once." 

He  was  dressed  in  navy  blue,  his  face  was  dark 
with  the  tan  of  the  tropics,  and  he  had  the  bluff, 
cheery  manner  of  a  sailor,  to  whicli  were  added  the 
manners  of  a  gentleman.  His  high  l)row  and  firm- 
set  mouth,  though  the  latter  was  concealed  in  part 
by  a  full  beard,  showed  him  to  be  a  man  of  deter- 
mined character  as  well  as  of  good  intelligence. 
He  liad  a  manner  of  mingled  firmness  and  good- 
nature which  made  me  like  him  at  once,  and  I 
thouo'ht  him  an  ideal  sailor  and  g-entleman. 

He  questioned  us  as  to  where  we  had  been  at  sea, 


214 


FA  I'll  1:1:     A'.ALXS'f    SOX. 


;ill«l     iisl\(M|      us     ;i      tew    otllfl'    (illcstinlis     aliiUlt     nlir 

scIiooHul;'.   and    llini    assi^i'iicfl    us   tn   duty. 

I  had  Hot  lifcii  l(iu;4'  (Ml  llic  •' ( '(iUL;TfSS  ""  Lcfore 
1  Icarnrd  lliat.  lliou^li  iImtc  was  a  larL^'c  uniidtcr  of 
Hicii  llici'f.  llici'f  were  l)Ul   lew  sailors  aiuoiin'  tliciii. 

(  )iu'  of  till'  old  sailors  wlioiii  I  uict  had  Ix'tMi  oil 
hoard  this  vesstd  for  sc\t'i'al  \  rars,  lia\  iui;' rci'idistcd 
after  tlircc  \cars"  scrxicc  in  hci-  ou  the  liraziliaii 
station.  lie  was  a  man  of  nioi'c  than  ordinary 
inicUii^ciicc.  and  for  a  ^\■olld(■l•.  as  I  aftcrwai'ds 
learned  it  to  he  aiiioiit;'  sailoi's.  did  not  drink 
sjurituous   li(jUors. 

••  I  should  have  thought,""  I  said  interroi^'atiNely, 
'•  Aou  would  lia\'e  sla\'e<l  on  shore  awhile  to  sec 
\(iur  folks." 

"Well.  \'ouuListei'/"  said  .losiah  I.eeeh.  foi' such 
was  his  name.  "I  ha\'e  n"t  L;()t  hithei'.  niothei;  or 
sisters  lixiui;',  lhonL;-h  I  ha\e  ^dt  a  hrother  some- 
w  heri'  driftiiiL;'  around  the  world  like  niystdf.  an' 
as  I  "m  an  American  and  we're  likely  to  liave 
some  work  in  the  na\'\\  I  stuck  1)\'  the  old  "  ( 'on- 
L^ress.'  I  know  her  fiom  trmdv  to  keel:""  and 
the  old  salt  smiled  L;'ood-natn redly  and  stowed 
a  larn'e  (|uid  (»f  tohaceo  in  his  cheek.  "  ^  es, 
xoniin'ster,  I  stood  h\"  this  ci-aft  \\hen,  as  you 
nii'4'ht    saw   tin'   rats    left    her."' 

■•  \Vhat  do  von  mean  hy  rats,  sir?""  I  in(|uired. 

■■  Well,  younester,""  said  .losiah,  turinng  over  his 
(piid  to  the  othei'  (dieek,  ■'  I  ain"t  callin'  my  old 
sliipnuites  names  by  any  means,  Ijiit   it 's  a  sayin' 


IN    Till-:    NAVY.  215 

'mono-  sailors,  an'  a  fact  as  wt'll.  that  if  a  ship  is 
goiu"  to  meet  with  niisfortiuie,  tliem  gents,  the 
rats,  'II  leave  beforehanil.  Well,  ever  senee  Ave 
come  from  the  Brazilian  station,  my  old  shipmate, 
Jim  Knowles,  said  the  rats  've  been  leavin'  this 
ship :  saw  some  goin'  ashore  at  Charleston  my- 
self." 

'•'You  don't  believe  that  stuff?"  I  said  interrog- 
atively. 

"  Well,"  said  Josiah,  s})itting  t)ver  the  rail  con- 
templatively, •'  not  "nless  they  went  in  droves. 
Rats  are  good  sailors,  an'  I  guess  some  of  'em 
want  a  day  oi'  two  on  shore,  like  the  res"  of  us." 

"You  don't  mean  to  say  the  crew  left  because 
the  rats  did  '.'' "  I  inquired. 

"  Well,  no ;  I  don't  mean  that  'zactly.  You 
see  we  *d  l)een  most  three  years  on  the  Brazilian 
station,  an"  when  we  got  to  Charleston,  our  term  'f 
enlistment  was  about  up.  The  men  was  wild  for 
lilierty  asliore.  Jack,  you  know,  earns  liis  money 
like  a  horse,  an"  spends  it  like  a  jackass,  an"  'f 
they  'd  just  given  Jack  his  liljerty  for  a  few  days, 
with  a  little  inducement  to  join  the  ship  again, 
tliey  d  "ave  come  back  like  a  lot  o'  school-boys  to 
tlieir  homes  after  school.  When  Jack's  money  's 
all  gone  you  c"n  handle  him  as  easy  as  you  c'n 
furl  sails  in  a  calm  after  a  storm.  The  crew  was 
promised  tlieir  discharge  if  they  "d  come  down  here 
where  they  would  all  be  discliarged  as  soon  as  a 
ship  could  be  got  ready  to  relieve  "em.     But  the 


210 


r\7'/n:ii  A(,al\st  son. 


Naval  nrpai-luiciit  did  iTt  Ivcep  tlicir  })r()mis(.',  an" 
the  iiifii  ^^as  snlk'\  :  tlicii,  alter  waitiii"  six  inoiitlis, 
tlicv  .L;'nt  so  soi'i'-licadrd  an'  dissatislit'(l  that  they 
l)i'()l-;c'  iidii  o[icii  iiiiitiiiy.  (  )iir  iiiu'lit  they  tlirt'W 
()\('i'l)(>ard  the  lories  an'  si^'ht-coNcrs  :  cnt  sonic  o 
the  traiinn'  lacdvlc  to  the  i^uns.  an"  sonic  of  the  ^nn 
l)i-c('cliiiiL;'.  'I'/ii'ii  t lie  order  conic  to  discliar^'c  them 
AN'hosc  time  "d  expireth  An"  alter  tha.t  you  could  n"L 
^it  one  of  'cm  aboard   a^'iii  witli  a  denitdv." 

'•Well/'  I  said,  "it  sccnis  to  nie  the  Xa\al 
I  )ci)ai1  iiiciil  should  keep  its  a^rcciiicnts  with  sailors, 
if  it  expects  tlicni  to  work  willin^'h." 

•'Sailors."  said  Josiah.  '•haxc  no  rights  that 
captains  feel  hoiind  to  I'cspcct,  an"  here  w'c  arc 
with  a  lew  sailoi's  di'aftcd  from  the  otiici- ships,  an" 
a  lot  of  ni'ccnhorns  :  what  kind  "f  a  chance  do  A\'e 
stand  if  them  Soiitlici'ii  hilks  send  out  some  ci'aft 
to  lii^'ht  us'/  ()f  course  we  "11  lick  "em  some  way, 
hut   we   ain't    in   slii])-sliape   to   do   it. 

''Ilci'e  "s  ahout  two  hundred  men  aboard  that 
"d  lie  seasitd'C  in  a  calm  :  them  fellers  from  Fort 
l''dlswortli  are  nice  l)oys  enoULj'h,  hut  thev  don't 
know  till'  Hyini;'  jih-hoom  from  a  marlin-spike. 
We've  got  some  good  ol'licei's  as  there  is  in  the 
service,  and  that's  the  reason  1  "\'e  stU(d\  to  tiie 
ship  after  the  rats  have  had  the  intelligence  to 
leave.*" 

And  Josiah  gave  a  hitch  to  his  trousers  ami 
went  to  work  [tolishiug  with  heeswa.x  the  huge 
gun  numher  ^-  on   the  starboard  side  of  the  ship, 


IX    THE    NAVY.  217 

SO  one  could  see  his  face  in  the  shine  of  it,  "  o-ood 
enough,"  as  Josiah  said,   •'  to  shave  l)y." 

Phil  and  I.  and  a  young  fellow  named  Wilson, 
were  selected  with  others  to  serve  as  a  gun's  crew  to 
a  thirty -two  pounder  on  the  gun-deck.  I^eech 
was  hrst  captain,  Wilson  second  captain,  I  was 
iirst  loader,  Phil  second  loader,  Avhile  two  raw- 
Ijoned  fellows  of  what  \\as  called  tlic  Fort  Ells- 
worth men  were  first  and  second  spongers,  while 
the  side  tacklemen  Avere  of  the  same  croAvd  ;  in  all, 
thirteen  men,  including  the  powder-men,  or,  as  the 
sailors  call  them,  '*  powder-monkeys." 

On  the  gun-deck  there  were  fourteen  of  these 
guns  each  on  the  port  and  starboard  sides,  and  tAvo 
at  the  stern  on  the  same  deck,  while  on  the  upper 
deck,  which  is  usually  called  the  spar-deck,  were 
fourteen  short  thirty-two  pounders.  I  soon  became 
proficient  in  the  gun-drill,  and  Phil  with  his  usual 
quickness  ''  took  to  it,  "  as  Josiah  said,  ''  like  a  baby 
to  its  mother's  milk."  Leech  took  much  pains 
when  at  leisure  to  teach  us  points  in  gunnery  and 
seamanship).  On  my  part  I  was  not  only  observ- 
ant, but  gave  all  my  spare  time  to  tlie  study  of  the 
"Ordnance  Instructions,"  a  copy  of  which  I  bor- 
rowed of  Josiah,  so  that  though  not  as  quick  at 
learning  as  Phil  I  made  up  in  attention  and  study 
for  it,  and  in  a  month's  time  very  few  things  in 
serving  a  gun  were  unfamiliar  to  me. 

One  circumstance  occurred  which  brought  me 
into  favor  with  the  captain.     I  was  called  to  his 


21.S  FATHER    A  a  A  INST    SON. 

cahiii  ill  tlic  absence  of  liis  elei'k.  to  do  some  writ- 
iiiL;-,  ami,  as  I  liaxc  l)et'oi'e  iulimated  in  these  jiatj'es. 
I  |ii'i(leil  m\sell'  oil  wi'itiiin'  a  ra[>i(l  ami  k\L;'il»li' 
hand,  as  well  as  lieiiiL;'  (juiek  and  eoiTeet  at  liLi'ures. 
'The  captain  was  |ilease(|  to  notice  this,  and  ask'e(l 
me  some  (jiU'stions  ahoiit  m\' ex[iei'ience  as  a  saihu'. 
and  this  incident,  as  it  will  he  seen,  afterwards  hore 
frnit. 

I  was  telling-  IMiil  of  the  notice  I  i-eceived  in  the 
captain's   cahin.  when    he   said    lani4'hinL;l\'  : 

''  Well,  old  how  W'e  aint  L;'ettini_;'  pi'omotioii  very 
fast  :  hut  hist  captain  on  a  L;nri  liei'e  seems  more  of 
an  olHce  than  an  ensign's  appointment  did  on  shoi'e 
at  home.  It  doiTt  seem  that  we  A\'ill  liave  any 
ti^htiii',;',   either."" 

''  I  L^'uess."  said  I.  *■  w'e  "ve  n'ot  as  hi^'h  positions 
as  oiir  knowdefl^'e  will  entitle  ns  to  at  [iresent,  and 
as  for  h^litinL;'  I  ain"t  haid-;erinn'  after  it."" 

''  l^'or  m\  pait.""  said  Phil,  *■  I  am  eonsiderinn' 
mys(df  liud<y  they  did  n"t  make  me  a  }iowder- 
mold\'ey.'" 

'' We  are  likidy  to  have  some  iii^'htini;-,""  I  said. 
"\  heard  the  captain  talkinn' with  l>ieutenant  Smith 
ahoiil  an  iron  vesstd  the  Southerners  ai'e  huilding'  at 
Norfolk.  I'he  captain  seemed  to  think  that  any 
kind  of  a  ci'aft  that  they  min'ht  l>uild  would  not 
amount  to  nnieh  ;  hut  tlie  lieutt'iiant  said  that  he 
knew  lirooks  (who  is  said  to  liave  eontrived  tlie 
iron-elad ),  and  that  lie  is  a  harddieaded,  sensible 
ol'iicei',  though  just    a    little   ci'anky  on   the  subject 


IN    Till':    NAVY.  219 

of  iroii-flads.  Tie  also  said  lit-  liad  lieard  tliiit  old 
Frank  liudiaiiaii  is  to  coniniaiid  the  iron-clad  that 
they  have  made  from  the  old  '  ^lerrimaek,'  and  if 
this  is  true  tliere  will  l)e  some  hot  work  ent  out  for 
us  (that  is.  if  the  iron-tdad  idea  is  g'ood  foi-  any- 
thing), for  there  is  n't  a  more  determined  or  eapahle 
officer  afloat,  so  Smith  said,  than  Buchanan." 

Tliere  had  been  some  talk  alxnit  an  iron-elad 
among  the  men,  for  whatever  is  talked  of  in  the 
cabin  finds  its  way  to  the  sailors  of  a  ship. 

When  I  spoke  to  Leech  about  tlie  iron-clad  he 
exclaimed: 

''Avast  tliere,  you  luliberl  Iron  ain't  the  stuff 
to  carry  much  aboveboard  on  the  water:  it's  all 
well  enough  on  land,  but  blast  my  eyes,  "tween 
me  and  the  mainmast,  I  'd  rather  have  a  plank 
o'  good  oak,  afloat,  than  a  ton  of  iron  I  " 

And  in  this  opinion  Josiali  voiced  tlie  general 
opinion  of  the  slii^)'s  company,  or  its  sailors  at 
least. 

It  is  Avell  to  say  here  that  the  authorities  at 
Wasliington  were  a-ware  that  an  iron-elad  was  l^uild- 
ing  at  Norfolk,  and  the  secretary  of  the  navy  had 
before  that  time  contracted  for  every  form  of  an 
iron  craft  then  known  to  naval  men,  and  one,  as 
will  be  seen,  tliat  was  never  known  of  before  in 
naval  architecture. 

AVe  heard  nothing  more  about  our  appointment 
to  some  better  position  than  that  of  common 
sailors,  and  the  only  letter  I  received  from  grand- 


i^20 


f.['j/i/:j;  AdAjy.'^'r  ,sux. 


fatliLT  simplv  I'oiiiisclcd  inc  to  ]te  patit  ;)t  and  learn 
all  I  could.  ^ 

Tlu'rc  siHin  occuiTt'd  an  cwnt  tliat  not  only 
l)i'(ikt'  tlic  nii>ii()i(iii\  111  si/a-lifc.  l)Ut  \\lii(.-li  L;a\«'  ns 
ii.Li'litiiiL;'  i'1I(iul;1i  to  last  niosi  l)oys  a  lifetime  :  an 
extMit  that  will  not  onl\-  lie  iinniortal  in  story  lor 
all  time.  InU  wliidi  also  in  a  single  day  revolution- 
i/.e(|  naval  wartari'.  and  made  the  ^\l»oden  \'essels 
of  all   the   na\'ies   of   the   world  impotent. 


THE    ADVENT    OE    THE    -  MERJiLUACK."    221 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

THE  ADVEXT  OF  THE  *•'  MERKOrACK." 

The  muriiini;-  of  the  8tli  of  ^laivli  Avas  calm 
and  beautiful.  The  sun  slione  in  a  sky  of  unelonded 
splendor,  lighting  up  with  golden  flashes  the  gently 
undulating  waters  of  Hampton  Roads. 

Our  good  ship  lay  at  anchor  not  five  hundred 
yards  from  the  shore  of  Newport  News,  where  we 
could  hear  tlie  beat  of  the  drums  and  the  shrill 
music  of  the  fifes  that  roused  soldiers  in  the  camp 
on  the  bluff  opposite  to  us.  On  that  morning  I 
remember  the  merry  clack  of  voices  that  followed 
the  breakfast  call  on  shore,  the  grateful  fragrance 
of  the  pines  wafted  to  us  on  the  morning  breeze, 
and  the  indescribable  smell  of  land  that  comes  to 
the  sailor  on  the  sea. 

.Vs  soon  as  the  sun  was  well  up,  our  sails  (that 
had  been  wet  hy  a  shower  during  the  night) 
were  loosened,  that  they  might  dry.  This  was 
preceded  by  the  usual  scrubbing  of  the  decks, 
and  other  duties  that  begin  the  day  on  board  a 
man-of-war. 

Up-stream,  a  few  hundred  yards  from  us,  and  a 
little  farther  off  shore  than  the  ''Congress,*'  lay 
the  "  Cumberland,*'  swinging  lazily  atanclior  on  the 


F. I  THE II     AfiA  fXS 7 '    .s' OX. 


incoming'  tidf,  wiili  licr  Ijoats  li;iiiL;iiii-;'  to  licr  lower 
liodiiis.  ;iii(l  1  lie  w  ;inIiiiil;'  nt  licrsailoi's  iii  t  lie  i'iL;'4'iiiL;'. 
I  In-  l()l'l\'  sides  1111(1  lici'  liiiit  riLj'L^'in^'  oiuliiicil  on 
tlic  water  uimI  sk\  made  lier  look  like  "a  paiiiteil 
sliijt  iij)oii  a  painted  ocean. 

Seven  uiile^  or  more  away  towai'ds  I''oi1  Monroe 
Wi'Vi'  llie  "Minnesota."  tlie  "  lioaiioke.  and  the 
"St.  Lawrence.""  liesides   se\'eral   L;'nn-li(»ats. 

In  tile  lia/.\'  distance  across  tlie  (dianiiel  was  to 
l)e  seen  tlie  lowland  of  ('i'aiie\  Island  and  Se\\-(drs 
i'oiiit.  at  the  month  of  the  I-^li/.aliet li  Iki\'er. 

All  the  time  we  had  lain  liei'e.  there  had  heeii,  as 
I  ha\c  elsewhere  said,  riinioi's  of  a  dan^'crons  ii-oii- 
(dad  ci'al't  that  was  hnildinn' at  Norhilk  to  (lesti-o\' 
onr  licet  at  lIam|iton  Utiads  -  -not  that  an\-  one  on 
hoai'd  was  alarmed  thci'eat,  I oi'  the  did  sailors  scol't'ed 
at  aiiv  suidi  "  lioise-marine  cont ri\  aiice  "  !)einL;'  able 
to  stand  a  Itroadside  iVom  one  of  our  shijis,  uiueh 
less    that    (»f   our    whole    lleet. 

It  was  eight  o"cloci<:  oi'  past,  while  I  was  on  tlie 
spai'  de(d<,  when  I  lieai'd  the  ol'licer  of  the  dt'ck  sav 
that  then'  wei'e  two  steamei's  in  the  .lames  Ili\'er 
ahout  tweh'e  miles  distant.  I  did  not  learn  his 
conclusions  re^ardiiiL;'  them,  and  the  remark  was 
of  so  little  interest  to  me  at  the  time  that  1  doubt 
if  1  slioidd  have  I'ecalled  it  hut  for  the  terrible  and 
tragic  oceuri'ences  that  follo\ve(l. 

The  captain  had  l)eeu  detatdieil  from  the  ship, 
lea\inn'  the    executive    oftic-ei'  in  command. 

At  about  ten   o'cloid-:   there   M'as   observed  from 


THE    ADVENT    OF    Till-:    -  MERIUMACK."    l>2;') 

our  (k'l'ks  li»iig  lines  of  l)laek  sinokf  in  tlif  diivt-- 
tion  of  Norfolk,  indicatino-  that  steanit-rs  M'ere 
coming  down  tlic  Elizabeth  IJiver.  The  l)laek 
smudge  of  smoke  eonstantly  increased  in  volume, 
^yhen,  at  about  one  o'cloek,  three  steamers  rounded 
Se well's  Point,  and  wt're  visible  from  the  deck  of 
the  "Congress.*'  Then  our  crew  l)ecame  aware 
(hoAV,  I  do  not  remend)er)  that  the  iron  craft  of 
which  Ave  had  heard  was  one  of  these  vessels. 

This,  however,  did  not  alarm  us.  I  remember 
that  old  Josiali  said,  as  lie  rolled  his  (juid  in  his 
mouth  with  a  half  smile  of  evident  contempt,  when 
I  asked  him  what  lie  tliought  about  her,  '' She  "d 
better  give  tis  a  wide  l)erth,  youngster,  or  we'll 
give  lier  a  broadside  that  "11  send  her  to  Davy 
Jones's  locker  like  a  shot."' 

"•  But,"  I  replied  anxiousl}-,  "  they  say  she  is  all 
iron,  Josiah." 

"  Avast  there,  you  land-lubber ! ''  said  he ; 
"  she  '11  sink  all  the  quicker  for  it." 

And  such  was  the  general  sentiment  of  the  old 
sailors  on  board  —  one  of  contempt,  rather  than  of 
doubt  of  the  result  in  a  battle  betAveen  us. 

Between  one  and  two  o'clock  these  hostile  steam- 
el's  were  seen  descending  with  the  tide,  and  in  their 
midst  was  a  strange  structure,  or  a  [)ortion  of  it, 
protruding  like  the  roof  of  a  house  from  the  water, 
surmounted  by  a  smoke-stack. 

As  they  were  apparently  coming  toAvard  us, 
there  Avas  a  bustle  of  preparation  onboard  our  ship. 


■2-2A  I'M' III: I!   A'.Aixsr  sox. 

Tilt'  s;iils  were  iiuickly  furled,  the  druiiis  Ix'at  to 
([Uarti'i's,  tln'  iiicii  ti)i)k  llicir  stalidus.  The  q-nns 
were  sliottctl,  the  iiiaqaziiics  opened  with  the 
HUiiiiers  at  theii'  posts.  Shot,  shell,  and  eartiid^'e 
were  all  in  [daee.  swords,  pistols,  and  hoarding- 
pikes  in  the  rack,  while  the  sui-^-eons"  tahle  gleamed 
with  kinves  and  saws,  in  tenilih-  hut  nee(ll'ul  read- 
iness. 

As  the  iroii-elad  slowK' neareil  us.  \-ouiil;'  Wilson, 
w  ho.  though  hut  twenty  years  of  aqe.  was  an  old 
nian-oi-w  ai's  man,  said  : 

••  She  niox'es  awful  slow  :  we  "11  get  a  liek  at  her 
and  sink  her  the  lirst  hi'oadsidt'  I  '" 

Little  did  we  then  realize  that  so  many  of  our 
Itrave  men  would  he  slee}unL;'  their  last  sleep  heforc 
the  sun  weld  down  that  nie-ht  I 

At  half-[)ast  two  the  sti'ani^'e  craft  was  l)ut  a 
(piarter  of  a  mile  from  us.  Wv  still  awaited 
orders,  and.  with  our  e-uus  trainetl  at  a  pro[)er  ele- 
vation, silently  viewed  her  a})proaeh,  T,  on  my  part, 
with  strange  tremors  of  expeetatiou  and  nervous 
apprehension,  while  awaiting  the  oi'der  to  lire. 

lUd'oif  this,  howevei'.  we  had  seen  the  "Minne- 
sota."" the  "  Koanoke,""  and  the  "St.  Lawrenee  "" 
hurrying  towards  us  to  take  part  in  the  tight,  so  did 
not  in  any  Avay  fear  the  general  result  of  the  et)n- 
tliet. 

The  shore  hatteries  had  already  opened  lire  with 
})rodigious  noise,  if  not  with  mueh  result.  Then 
the   "  ('und)erland  ""   opene(l   with   her  lieavy  pivot 


THE    ADVEyr   OF    Till-:   ■•  Mi:niiIMA('Ky  225 

UTius.  and  we  wore  astonished  that  the  strange  non- 
descript was  still  corning  on  witliout  reply.  Snd- 
denlv  a  flash  amid  smoke  came  from  her  l)ows,  and 
then  a  roar  as  the  shot  struck  our  sides  and  rattled 
on  our  decks. 

Then  the  long-expected  order  came  for  us  to 
open  tire.  The  lanyards  were  pulled,  and  when 
the  smoke  cleared  we  expected  to  see  lier  sinking. 
What  was  our  surprise  to  see  her  apparently  unin- 
jured, moving  from  us.  Her  starhoard  })orts  flew 
open  and  her  terril)le  l)roadside  smote  us  with 
a  tearing,  crasliing  sound  impossihle  to  describe. 
Then,  without  taking  further  notict^  of  us  for  the 
time  being,  she  slowly  passed  us  within  three  hun- 
dred yards,  making  towards  the  "  Cumberland," 
Avhicli,  with  the  shore  batteries,  w^as  firing  every 
gun  that  would  bear  on  her.  But  never  did  brave 
men  make  a  more  hopeless  battle.  To  our 
dismay  we  saw  the  shot  glance  from  the  sides 
of  the  iron  craft,  apparently  making  no  more  im- 
pression on  her  than  if  they  had  been  foot-balls 
filled  with  wind,  instead  of  solid  shot. 

After  the  '••  ^lerrimack "  had  steered  for  the 
"  Cumberland,'"  a  shot  from  one  of  our  stern  p'uns 
carried  away  the  flag  of  the  iron-clad,  and  the 
green  Fort  Ellsworth  men  thought  she  had  sur- 
rendered, and  began  to  cheer.  Lieutenant  Pren- 
dergrast,  on  the  gun-deck,  said.: 

"■  Don't  cheer,  men,  the  fight  is  n't  over  yet." 

Shot  meanwhile  smote  us,  as  it  seemed,  from  every 


■1-1^\ 


FAIlli:!!     AdAfXsr    SoX. 


(liiTcrKdi  :  tlicrc  was  a  tire  on  oiir  ^'nn-dccl^.  and 
teri'iMf  crii'S  ranic  IVoni  (Hir  woumltMl  as  tlir\'  wcit 
carried  to  tlic  cocl^-pit,  witli  maii^lfd  toriiis,  and 
witli  tlici)'  lil(>(id  piiui'iiiL;'  tn  tlic  (lccl<s,  >vliil('  the 
dead    still    la\-    anmnL;-   the    L;-inis, 

Tt  was  awful  I  Uiit  w'(ti'sc  sdon  rauic  I.  witli 
others,  I'an  to  the  ^j)ar-dec]\  in  my  e\eiteinent.  and 
tliei'e  saw  tliat  some  of  our  men  wei'e  looseiiin;.;'  tlie 
sails.  I  was  soon  reminded  that  m\-  station  was 
on  the  L;un-de(d<  lielo\\'.  At  llial  time  the  scene 
on  tiie  L;un-(h'ck  haflles  desci'i[ition. 

(  )n  iieariiiL;'  the  ••  ( 'umherlaiid  ""  the  rein')  captain 
called  out,  ••Will  \-ou  surrender?"" 

••  No,""  \\'as  the  I'eph-  :  "•  I  "II  sink  alon^'side  first  !  "" 

'I'he  I'ehcl  ci'al't  then  struid^  the  ••  ( 'umherland  "" 
with  her  iron  pi'ow.  with  a  crash:  and  while 
shouts  and  dreadful  cries  came  to  ns  on  the  still  air 
she  wi'l^'u'leil  ])[[rk  from  the  doomed  sliij),  leaving' 
a  o-rc'iit.  L^'ash  in  her  sides.  With  a  roai'  from  lier 
L;'uns  the  ••('umherland""  listed  to  }iort.  and  then 
Avitli  her  dead  and  wonnde(l  and  man\  liviuL;' she 
Avent  down  liead-lirst  (as  if  disdaijnn^'  vvvn  in  her 
last  slrUL^u'le  to  make  a  hacdcward  mo\'e ),  with  her 
i-olors  still  llxiiii;'.  This  I  saw  in  a  mere  glimpse 
tlu'ongh  our  port-holes  (hiring  the  sun-ounding  con- 
f\ision. 

The  gun-l)oat  -Zouave"'  hail  meanwliile  come 
alongside  of  us:  she  was  a  tug  with  hut  two  guns. 
She  ma<le  fast  on  our  port  side  and  })assed  her 
tow-line  through  one  (if  ()ur  scu[)pers  amidship.      It 


Till-:   ADViixr  OF   Tin:  ••  Mi:ni:nr aik'"  22 i 

scniK'd  an  aL;'r  wliile  this  was  hcin^' done.  TIumi  tlie 
l)()\v  of  our  slii[)  was  bmnnlit  around  to\\'ards  the 
shore,  in  order  to  run  her  auround.  Hut  it  was, 
as  it  proved,  a  disastrous  move.  As  we  weiv  lieaded 
for  shore  we  heard  sinudtaneouslv  a  roar  of  onus 
and  the  rippiuo-  and  tearing  of  phink  and  tiinher. 
The  whole  stern  of  our  sliip   was  shot  away. 

The  meaning  of  this,  as  I  soon  learned,  was  that 
the  ^  ^lerrimaek "  had  got  astern,  within  a  few 
luuidred  yards  of  us,  and  was  I'aking  us  foi'e  and 
aft  witli  her  heavy  broadside  guns.  The  two  guns 
at  the  stern  were  disaljled  by  the  l)reeeh  fastenings 
being  torn  away ;  and  most  of  their  erews  hiy 
killed  or  wounded  around  the  guns. 

Broadside  after  lu'oadside  followed  until  the  deck 
was  slip[)ery  with  blood,  the  guns  were  wrecked, 
and,  worst  of  all,  we  could  not  bring  one  of  them  to 
bear  on  our  enemy  to  make  reply.  The  ca[)tain  of 
our  gun  lay  dead  with  the  lanyard  gras[)ed  in  his 
l)rawny  hands  ;  young  Wilson  was  impaled  M'ith  a 
splinter  through  his  lungs  ;  Phil  had  his  left  arm 
wTjunded,  the  iirst  port  tackleman  and  two  others 
were  killed,  the  second  wounded,  and  the  whole 
deck  was  one  scene  of  appalling  distress  and  wreck. 
The  very  remembrance  of  that  scene  after  all  the 
years  that  have  since  passed  freezes  my  blood. 

Amid  all  the  confusion  and  distress,  the  shrieks 
of  the  wounded  and  their  moans  and  cries  of 
anguish  and  calls  for  help,  I  g(^t  kaleidoscope- 
like glimpses  of  the  lesser  scenes  taking  [)lace.     I 


±1>< 


FA  Till:/;     A '.WIN  ST    SOX. 


saw  ActiiiL;'  (aj'taiii  Smitli  ('(»mc  dnwii  the  aftcr- 
liatcli\\a\'  and,  while  oiir  toot  was  on  llic  ladder, 
|iiit  liis  liaiid  lo  Ills  iiioutli  to  'j;\\r  an  ordei;  and 
I'all  dead  in  the  act.  I  notired  also  at  this 
time  a  sti'eani  ol'  hlood  poui'iiiL;'  ihi'ounh  our  seiip- 
[x'l's  (lik'e  A\'ater  while  washiiiL;'  down  decdvs )  on 
the  deel^s  of  the  '•ZoUa\'e,  and  I  renieinl»ei'  wou- 
deiinn'  if  ni\-  l)lood  too  woidd  soon  join  in  sw(dliiiL;' 
tliat  sanguine  stream. 

W'e  liad  meanwhile  L;'roiinded.  and  aftei"  w^liat 
seemeil  an  lioiir,  thonn'h  I  leariRMJ  afterwards  tliat- 
it  was  hut  a  few  minutes,  t  he  rel)el  ii'on-clad  having' 
linished  hei'  work.  Ideuteiiaiit  Preiidei'^i-ast  (in 
eonnnaiid  since  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Smith) 
caused  the  white  flaL;'  to  1>e  hoisted  in  token  of  tlic 
sui-i'cnder  of   oui'  ship. 

To  escape  the  terrilile  scene  below  decl\S  I  went 
to  the  S})ar-dec]-;,  lollowed  l)v  Phil,  who  di'ipped 
lilood  as  ln'  walkeil.  and  n'ot  him  in  a  j)osition 
Itack  of  tlie  mainmast  wliero  he  was  in  part  slud- 
tered  fi'om  the  shot  that  now  strtick  us  from  the 
ritlemeii   oil  shore. 

It  was  while  I  Avas  (htini;'  this  that  a  small  rehel 
steamer  eame  alon^'side,  to  seeiire  such  arms  as 
were  possil)le,  and  also,  as  I  afterwards  learned, 
to  ordi'r  the  crew  out  of  the  '"Congress  '"  prelimi- 
nary to  l)urnin«4'  her. 

IlavinL;'  hound  np  pool'  Phil's  arm  with  my 
handkerchief,  and  L;'i\'en  him  and  yonni;-  Wilson 
(wh(3  w^as   in  rear  ol    the  maininast)  a    drink    of 


THE    ADVENT    OF    THE    '•MERRIMACK.''   229 

Avater,  I  walked  aft  and  saw  a  young  fellow,  appar- 
ently an  officer,  step  from  the  paddle-box  of  the 
little  rebel  steamer  to  the  hammoek  netting  of  the 
"Congress"  (it  l)eing  just  level  with  the  paddle- 
box),  then  go  aft  and  seize  the  colors  which  were 
trailing  from  our  stern.  While  winding  them 
around  him  he  was  struck  l)y  a  rifle-shot  from  the 
shore  and  fell  dead  on  our  deck. 

I  am  thus  particular  in  narrating  this  incident, 
as  it  was  afterward  claimed  that  he  was  shot  while 
rescuing  the  wounded  of  the  "  Congress." 

The  ship  was  now  on  fire  in  several  places  ;  the 
enemy  finding  the  fire  too  severe  for  their  liking 
hauled  off,  with  a  few  of  our  officers  for  prisoners, 
and  opened  fire  on  the  "  Congress."' 

As  there  was  no  further  duty  to  perform,  and  as 
the  fire  that  was  raging  on  board  was  likely  to 
reach  the  magazine  soon,  those  of  our  crew  remain- 
ing on  board,  not  disabled,  devoted  their  attention 
to  rescuing  the  Avounded  and  saving  themselves. 

The  l)oats,  which  were  attached  to  the  slup  by 
a  line  from  the  jil>boom,  with  a  boat-keeper  on 
board  with  instructions  to  allow  no  one  to  get  on 
them,  were  now  brought  alongside  and  filled  with 
our  men.  Phil,  Wilson,  and  other  wounded,  as 
well  as  some  who  were  not,  were  put  in  one  of 
these  boats,  while  I  took  to  the  water  and  swam 
ashore. 

It  was  fortunate  that  I  did  so,  for  the  fire  soon 
after  reached  the  magazine,  and  the  fragments  of 


230  FATin-R    .[(.'AfXST    SOX. 

tlie  dead,  and  tln'  Moody  and  niaiiLz'lfd  sliip.  -were 
scatt('ivd  o\'ci-  tlic   waters. 

This  ended  \ny  pai'licipation  in  this  most  nienio- 
rahle  eoiilliet. 

Thus  in  litlle  more  tlian  two  lioui's  the  "Men'i- 
niaelv  ""  had  desti'oved  a  llea^■\' iVi^'ate  and  a  laTLi'e 
sloo|)  of  WAV,  moimtiiiL;'  loi;-ether  sevent\--tonr  L;'nns, 
and  had  Idlleil  in  l)attle  and  drowne(l  two  hun- 
di'ed  and  lit'tyof  llieir  ei'ew.  — a  destrm-tion  hardly 
matelied    in   na\a]    warfare. 

Vet  the  woi'k  of  tlie  '•  Mei'rimaek  "'  was  not  vet 
tiinsliech  After  tlie  events  narrated  she  steamed 
into  Hampton  lloads  (  lea\  ini;'  our  lau'inni;'  friLjate 
and  the  sunken  ■■  ( 'uiidiei'land '"  and  theii'  eri'ws  to 
tiieii'  fate).  headiiiL;'  towards  the  '•Minnesota,"" 
aeeompanied  liy  hei'  consorts,  the  "' Patricdc  Henry" 
and  the  ••  .lamestown."" 

The  ••  Minnesota.'"  in  attem})tinL;'  to  reacli  the 
scene  of  tlie  ti^'hl.  had  nin  aground  aliout  half-way 
between  l^'ort  Monroe  and  where  the  "Congress"' 
lay.  This,  instead  of  1»eing  a  mish)rtune  as  it  then 
seemed,  })roved  to  ])v  her  sah'ation  :  h)r  the  iron- 
clad drawing-  twenty-two  or  more  feet  of  water 
(and  as  the  tide  was  then  almost  out)  eould  not 
get  within  a  mile  of  her.  Only  a  single  shot 
from  the  iron-clad  ship  struck  tlie  ''Minnesota."' 
The  lire  from  tlie  rifle  guns  of  her  consorts 
was,  however,  more  destruetive :  but  when  the 
"Minnesota""  linally  brought  one  of  her  heav}" 
o'uns  to  bear  on  them  tliev  turned  tail,  while  the 


THE    ADVENT    OF    THE    ••  MERlilMAC K.'^    281 

"  MeiTimack,"  not  Ijeing  able  to  ivaeli  her,  stcaiiicd 
away  in  the  direction  of  Norfolk,  accompanied  l)y 
the  smaller  and  less  dangerous  crafts. 

This  was  about  sundoAvn  on  that  eventful  8th  of 
:\Iarch. 

.Vnd  thus  ended  the  lirst  fight  of  iron-clad 
against  wooden  shi[)S  in  tlie  liistory  of  naval  Avar- 
fare. 

Little  remains  to  l)e  said,  except  that  the  heroism 
of  those  on  Ijoard  of  the  "  Cuml:)erland,'"  wliieh  I 
have  not  attempted  to  tell  (only  as  I  saw  it  A\ith 
one  of  those  glimpses  which  a  man  catches  in  a 
fight,  while  surrounded  \)y  danger  and  confusion), 
as  well  as  that  of  my  shipmates  on  the  "  Congress,*' 
was  as  grand  as  anything  that  ever  took  place  on 
the  sea. 

That  evening,  after  I  had  got  on  shore  and  was 
drying  myself  at  a  fire  kindled  by  our  sailors,  I  heard 
some  further  details  of  the  "  Cumljerland's  "  heroic 
fight  and  fate.  One  of  her  sailors,  with  a  simple 
patlios,  told  me  that  tlie  captain  of  Ins  gun  would 
not  leave  it,  but,  throwing  his  arms  around  it  as 
if  it  was  his  sweetheart,  and  thus  clasping  it,  AA'ent 
down  with  the  ship.  And  then  was  told  to  me 
how  the  guns  were  fought  from  gun-deck  to  spar- 
deck,  and  only  abandoned  wlien  the  muzzles  were 
under  water.  And  all  this  occurred  amid  the 
shots  and  shrieks,  and  the  crashing  and  creaking  of 
timber,  broken  by  the  tremendous  broadside  of  the 
''  Merrimack." 


232  F. [111  Eli    AdAlNSr    SUN. 

Tlu'  old  siiilors  Awro  l)i'(ikcii-lirartc(|  dwr  tlicir 
(Icfi-at. 

Some  iiKiurmMl  tlic  loss  of  slii}»niatfs  :  l)ut  one  i)f 
tlic  ]iiost  pallictic  lii^iufs  lliat  I  I'ccall  A\-as  the 
(•a[)taiii  of  one  of  the  ^UHs  oil  Itoard  tlii'  '■  ( 'iuiiIht- 
laiul ""  nioiiiiiiiiL;'  tlir  loss  of  liis  n'liii. 

Later  in  the  cNciiiiiL;-  I,  A\itli  others,  under  direc- 
tion of  Lifiiteiiaiit  Preiidcr^'rast,  walked  to  Fort 
^loiiroc.  where  was  ^-athered  a  most  iiielaneholy 
crowd  (tf  landsiiieii  and  sailors.  It  was  one  of  the 
darkest  periods  in  oiir  national  history:  none  kiKWV 
what  the  morrow  would  l)riiiL;-  hirtli:  one  thin i^' was, 
liowe\-er.  deemed  cei'taiii.  and  that  was  that  tlie 
'•"Merrimack""  would  come  out  from  her  lair  and 
(•om})lete   the   destruction  she   had   henun. 

I>ut  while  wi-  thus  des[)aired,  Providence  held 
in  store  a  surprise,  not  only  for  us.  hut  for  the 
exulting'  rehels,  who  were  contideiit  of  our  humili- 
ation and  defeat  with  the  eomiuL;'  of  another  day. 

r  had  had  nothiiiL;'  to  eat  since  mornino-,  and 
strange  to  rtdate  had  not  rememhered  that  I  was 
hungry,  so  intense  had  been  my  excitement.  lUit 
on  eoming  in  siglit  of  the  sutlers  at  Fort  ]\loiiroe,  and 
seeing  some  of  the  sailors  eating  there,  it  suddenly 
oceurred  to  me  that  I  too  was  famished.  I  mention 
this  as  showing  Iioav  emotions  or  powerful  excite- 
ment wall  sometimes  make  one  forget  even  hunger. 

After  I  had  tinished  a  good  meal  of  sutler's  pies 
I  turiu'd  to  leave,  when  I  almost  ran  into  an  ofiieer. 
1  saluted  and  was  ahout  to  })ass  when  he  called  me 


THE    ADVENT    OF    Till-:    -  MERR/}fArK:'   2:^3 

by  name.  It  was  ^iv.  IJell,  the  fonner  .second  oi'li- 
eer  of  the  "  Favorite."" 

"How  came  you  here,  Johnstone?""  he  inquired 
in  a  tone  of  svirprise. 

I  exphiined  to  him  that  I  had  l)een  one  of  the 
crew  of  tlie  ill-fated  "  Congress.""  Then  followed 
an  explanation  of  how  Phil  and  I  had  enlisted  in 
the  navy  with  the  expectation  of  an  appointment 
of  some  kind,  which  had  not  come. 

^Ir.  Bell  smiled  as  he  said  :  "  They  wind  red 
tape  rather  slow  in  the  navy,  —  but  where  is  yonr 
friend  Phil  ? "' 

I  replied  that  Phil  had  l)een  wounded,  and  Avas 
then  under  the  surgeon's  care  at  Newport  News  ; 
that  his  wound  was  not  very  serious,  and  that  after 
I  had  swam  ashore,  without  telling  him  for  fear  he 
would  desire  to  accompany  me,  I  had  walked  down 
to  tlie  fort,  thinking  my  services  might  be  required 
in  the  morning. 

"  That  speaks  pretty  well  for  your  nerve,*"  said 
Mr.  Bell,  "  after  such  a  shaking  up  as  you  've 
had !  It  is  just  as  well,  perhaps,  that  the  '  Minne- 
sota,' got  aground,  or  she  too  might  now  be  at  the 
bottom  of  the  Roads." 

"  Are  you,"  I  inquired,  "  on  board  of  her  ?  " 

"  No,"  he  replied,  "  I  'm  a  volunteer  officer  on 
the  gun-boat  '  Terror.'  " 

"  What  do  you  intend  to  do  if  the  rebel  iron- 
clad comes  out  to-morrow?"  I  said. 

"There  is  not  any  if  in  it,  my  lad ;  she  will  come 


•J:U 


FAIlIi:!!    Ai.MXST    S(>X. 


;is  sni'L'  as  the  siiii  risfs.  and  (lod  knows  wliat  Avr 
shall  do,  (ir  whiTc  we  shall  1)L'  l)ctoi'('  the  sun  sets 
on  Sunday."" 

•'I'd  like  lo  l;'(»  on  hoai'd  with  you,""  I  said; 
"  ])i'rh;i|is    I    nii'^ht    he    oi'   use.  " 

"  Well.  I  "11  lake  you.  hut  I  do  not  know  that  it 
is  a  l'riciidl\  act.  I  tell  v«»u  plainh'  that  1  se'c  no 
lio|)c  ol'  aiiNthiiiL;'  hut  disaster  licloi-c  us.  It  is 
siin|il\'  the  intention  of  all  on  Ixiard  to  lii^'ht  iind  l;'o 
down  with  the  ship  —  there  sccnis  nolhili^'  else  to 
do  :    liut  it   \'ou  waul   to  l;o,  eonie  alou^'. 

••M\'  lather  iisimI  to  tell  nie,'"  1  icplied,  "that 
*a  man  eould  die  hut  ouee,  and  the  time  to  die 
was    when    he   could   die   doiuL;'   his   duty. 

Mr.  liell  looked  at  me  foi'  a  moment  with  an 
expression  on  his  hiee  which  I  could  not  iutei|)ret, 
l)ut  after  a  moment  said  in  a  low  tone  as  if  to  him- 
self, "  ^'our  hither  must    ha\c  heeii  a    L;'entlemau."' 

"lie  was.""  I  I'eplied.  in  nuich  the  same  tone  as 
that  in  which  he  had  s[iokeu, 

Uehtre  I  could  L;et  leave  to  aeeompan\- him,  how- 
e\'er,  I  was  orderi'd  to  embark  on  a  hoat  tor  the 
'^  Minnesota,""  then  aground,  as  I  have  said,  not 
far  from  Newport  News. 

The  night  was  calm  and  the  mooii  was  not  yet 
n[),  l>ut  the  huruing  "'Congress''  threw  a  lurid 
glare  across  the  water,  to  me  a  grand  hut  depress- 
ing sight,  for  I  I'ecalled  the  hrave  men,  so  full  of 
hope  hut  that  nioi'iiing,  who  lay  in  death  on  h()ar<l. 

l^ono-  lifter    I    arrived    1   watched    the    line    l)ut 


THE    ADVENT    OE    THE    "MERRIMACK,      lio.) 

nieianclioly  sight,  her  shrouds  and  rigging  iUunii- 
natod  with  fire  and  her  o[>en  ports  lurid  with  tianie, 
when  l)et\veen  one  and  two  oYdoek  she  l)lew  u[)  in 
a  succession  of  explosions  throwing  towards  tlie 
stars  fonntain-Uke  shoAvers  of  sparks,  each  rivalling 
tlie  others  in  height. 

Then  I  "  turned  in,"  as  sailors  call  going  to  bed, 
and  slept  soundly  until  aroused  by  the  shrill  music 
of  the  boatswain's  whistle. 


236  FATHER    AGAINST    SON. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


n;()X  mi:ets  ikon". 


It  was  a  hcaiuiful  Smidav  iiioi'iiinn' :  the  air  Avas 
Ijaliny.  and  scaice  a  bivezt'  stinvd  llu'  waters  of 
l)('autil'ul  llaiiiptdii  Koails.  I  -went  oil  deck 
at  ail  t'ai'ly  liour  witli  (Hic  of  the  I't'tty  olHeers, 
wlidSf  ae([Uaiiitaiiee  I  had  made  A\liili'  I  was  on 
hoai'd  of  tlie  "  M  iiiiicsola  ""  at  llatteras  Inlet.  The 
sun  was  up  and  the  decks  wri'c  IteiuL;'  scrulil)e(h  hir 
not  even  iinpciidinL;'  liatlh'  is  allowed  to  interfere 
with  the  routine  on  Ixtard  of  a  man-of-war. 

"Have  you  seen  that  (jueer  craft  along'side?" 
iiU|uired   my    friend. 

"  Xo,"  I  refilled,  "  I  have  n"t  heard  anything  al)out 
her  ;  wliere  is  she  ?  "' 

•"Why,  right  liere,"  he  replie(h  looking  over  the 
side  of  the  ship  toward  Fort   Monroe. 

I  looked  and  saw  a  diminutive  (hirk-looking  craft, 
sharp  at  hotli  ends,  Avith  a  round  structure  al)out 
ten  feet  high  in  the  centre,  and  a  square  l)ox-look- 
ing  structure  at  her  how.  Her  deck  was  nearly 
level  with  the  water,  there  was  no  side  railing,  and 
she  was  indeed  a  queer-ap[)earing  craft;  looking, 
as  my  friend  said,  •'  like  a  shingle  sharpened  at  hoth 
ends,  with  a  tin  can  set  in  the  centre." 


IROy    MEETS    IRON.  237 

"What  is  she  for?"  I  inquired. 

"  They  say,'"  he  replied  witli  sarcastic  emphasis, 
''that  they  are  going  to  hglit  the  rebel  iron-clad 
with  her,  when  she  conies  out," 

"  Fight  I  "'  I  echoed  in  astonishment ;  "  I  can't  see 
anythino-  on  board  that  she  has  got  to  fight  with. 
Where  are  her  guns  ?  " 

As  we  spoke  there  came  towards  us  a  sailor  on 
her  deck,  and  to  Inm  we  addressed  the  same  inquiry. 

'^  Guns  ? '"  he  replied,  with  a  gesture  towards  the 
round  structure.  ''  In  the  turret  there,  and  be- 
tween you  and  I  and  the  mainmast,  mates,  they  '11 
give  that  rebel  craft  that  raised  the  devil  here  yes- 
terda}'  (and  that  you  seem  so  scared  about)  all  she 
wants  and  change  to  boot." 

"  I  guess  you  have  n't  seen  the  '  Merrimack,'  "  I 
replied. 

"  She  '11  see  us  if  she  comes  out  here  into  Hamp- 
ton Roads  again  ;  and  she  may  think  lierself  lucky 
if  she  ever  gets  back,"  and  he  spat  contemptuously 
over  the  side. 

"  What  makes  her  go  ?  I  don't  see  any  sails  or 
smoke-stacks. " 

''  Well,  there  's  our  smoke-stack,"  he  said,  points 
ing  to  two  slit-like  openings  in  the  deck  abaft  the 
turret.  "  They  're  made  of  good  plain  air  and  can't 
be  shot  away." 

"  This  is  a  sort  of  a  sulMuarine  craft,"  said  another  ; 
"blast  my  eyes  if  she  didn't  come  most  of  the  way 
from  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard  under  water." 


2:mS  fa  1111:11    AcAIXsr    SOX. 

"•('(tiiic  ;i\\;i\-  IVoiii  tluTr."  said  ail  old  sailor: 
''  tlial  cliaii  takes  vou  for  a  horse  marine:  lie's 
codding'   \i)ii.' 

I  tlioi!;4-lil  tlie  same.  aii<l  ill  aiiv  ease  had  lail 
litlh'  iiitei'esi  ill  her.  as  all  I  had  heard  and  seen 
L;'a\'e  me  lillle  lailh  in  her  aliilil  \'  lo  eope  su(;ei'ss- 
I'nlK'  with   till-  rehel  ii'oii-i-lad. 

'•ldie\'  "\"e  '^n\   eoli Tk leliee,"  said  m\    friend. 

'*  ^  es.  and  we  too  had  eonrideiiee  on  hoard  the 
•  ( 'oii^'ress  "  \'esterdav  niorniiiL;'.  hnt  she  sank  the 
'  ( 'nmherland  "  and  destro^ cil  the  •  ( 'oiili'Ivss  "  not- 
withstanding-all  ol'  it.""  I  said  hitterh'  :  for  I  remeni- 
oered  the  lira\'e  men  now  dead,  who  on  the  morn- 
ing- lielore  liad  n'oiie  into  the  li^ht  so  eonlideiit  of 
their  ahility  to  deieiid  themsehcs  and  the  honor  of 
the  lla--. 

"There  is  some  one  oil  hoard  that  has  qiveii 
these  men  eoiilideiiee.""  said  m\  friend,  "and  let  us 
hope  for  the  liest  :  hut  to  me  it  seems  that  it  \\-ould 
Jiax'e  heeii  just  as  well  h)r  them  Washington  hdks 
t(»  have  sent  us  a  sardine  hox  as  that  thine'."" 

'Jdic  craft  we  had  l)eeii  thus  eontem[)tuouslv  dis- 
ciissiiiL;'  was  the  -•  Monitor.'"  She  had  arrived  from 
New  York  at  nine  o'ehiek  on  the  evening  liefore,  and 
at  two  o'(do(dc  that  morning  had  anchored  alongside 
the  "Minnesota.""  V>y  a  coincidence  that  looks 
like  the  interposition  of  Providence,  she  had  l)een 
Hnished  the  same  day  as  the  "  Merrimack."  She 
was  at  once  sent  to  o[)en  the  Potomac  (then  ol)- 
.structed  hv  rehel  earthworks)  to  the  navigation  of 


IRON    MI'lETS    IRON.  239 

onr  slii})ping.  The  Naval  I)e})artiiieiit,  in  tlicse 
orders  to  her  eoinuiaiKler,  also  gave  orders  '-that 
the  'Monitor'  was  to  make  no  stop  on  her  passage 
exce[)t  at  Fort  Monroe." 

( )n  the  afternoon  of  the  <^th,  when  her  brave  com- 
mander heard  the  sonnd  of  the  tight  at  Hampton 
Roads,  he  hurried  forward,  in  hopes  to  arrive  in 
season  to  take  a  hand  in  tlie  conflict.  On  his  arrival 
he  reported  to  Captain  ]\Iarston,  of  the  '•  lioanoke," 
who  "suggested  that  he  should  go  to  the  assistance 
of  the  '  ^linnesota,'  thongli  as  the  othcer  in  com- 
mand in  tlie  al)sence  of  Flag-otiicer  Goldsborough, 
he  had  received  peremptory  orders  to  send  the 
'  ^Monitor "  to  Washington  without  delay.'' 

Had  she  arrived  the  morning  previous,  no  doubt 
this  order  would  have  l)een  (obeyed,  Ijut  her  arrival 
after  the  disaster  of  Saturday  determined  the 
brave  ]\Iarston  to  disoljey  and  retain  the  "  Moni- 
tor "  to  protect  the  fleet. 

Thus  it  was,  by  a  series  of  accidents,  that  the 
little  "  Monitor  "  was  present  tliat  day  to  meet  the 
"  Merrimack,"  and  dispute  with  her  the  supremacy 
of  the  sea,  although  at  that  time  she  had  not  been 
accepted  l)y  the  naval  authorities,  and  was  the 
property,  technically  at  least,  of  private  indi- 
viduals. 

At  about  eight  o'clock  we  saw  the  enemy's  ves- 
sels (that  had  been  lying  at  anchor  near  Sewell's 
Point  since  the  previous  night j  coming  in  our 
direction. 


240  FATIIEi:    AdAIXST    SON. 

Tilt'  flrnnis  of  the  *•  Minnesota  "  gloomily  heat  to 
([Uartei's  :  the  men  to<il<  tli(;ir  stations  whh  despond- 
eney,  inin;_;l(Ml  \\\i\\  Li'i'ini  (leterniinatioii.  (Hi  their 
rugged  hiccs.  TlitTc  was  cansc  for  tlieir  ghioni. 
The  situation  was  such  as  to  jnstit'y  distrust  if  not 
ho})('lcssn('ss  :  the  ''Minnesota"'  had  heen  l)adlv 
cnt  n|)  in  the  liglit  of  Saturday:  tlic  '"  lioanoke  " 
was  uiinianagcal)h'  from  l)reaking  hci'  maehinery  : 
the  "St.  ha^\•rellee  "'  was  a  sailing  ^'esst'h  and  eould 
do  l)nt  little  in  calm  wcathci'.  ^Vhat  hetter  eould 
A\e  ex[)ecl  than  the  hitc  of  the  "  C'nndierlaud  "  and 
the  "Congress""?  There  \\'as  hut  little  eonhdeuee 
(hat  the  "  Monitor""  wonld  he  ahle  to  eo[ie  sueeess- 
fulh'  with  the  '•  Mi'rriniack  :  ""  and  yet  this  ([neer, 
insignificant-looking  thing  was  all  there  was  he- 
twecn   onr  wooden  ships  and  (h'strnetion. 

The  rt'hel  iron-clad,  instead  of  taking  the  course 
she  had  taken  on  Saturday,  after  steaming  down 
the  \{\\)  Raps,  turned  into  the  channel  hy  whieh  the 
"Minnesota""  had  reached  her  position,  ami  then 
rapidly  aiiproached  us. 

When  she  was  w  ithin  a  mile  of  oui'  ship,  the  men, 
who  had  meanwhile  had  their  lireakfast,  were  again 
sunnnoned  to  the  guns,  and  opened  fire  upon  her 
with  their  stern  gnns. 

And  now  ensued  a  scene  tlie  mere  remembrance  of 
wdiieh  (after  the  lapse  of  more  than  a  ([uarter  of  a 
century)  again  makes  my  hlood  tingle  in  my  yeins. 

The  "  Monitor."'  hitherto  concealed  from  lier 
antagonist  belnnd  the  "  Minnesota,"'  darted  out  and 


/ROX    MEETS    mux.  241 

placed  herself  between  the  rebel  craft  and  onr  ship, 
and  steered  directly  for  the  rel)el  frigate. 

We  saw  tlie  "  ]\lerriniack  '*  slow  up  as  if  in  aston- 
ishment that  so  insignificant  a  craft  should  dare  to 
approach  her ;  then,  while  her  wooden  consorts 
scattered,  the  huge  "  Merrimack  "  trained  her  for- 
ward guns,  aimed,  and  missed  their  mark,  for  the 
"  Monitor  "  presented  to  the  guns  of  her  antagonist 
only  her  turret  (as  the  largest  mark),  a  cross-section 
of  scarcely  tAventy  feet  by  nine.  Then  our  little 
craft  answered  with  a  solid  eleven-inch  shot,  which 
was  indeed  a  monitorial  one.  It  smote  the  huge 
frigate,  and  made  her  tremble  Avith  the  blow! 

'■'-  By  lieaA'ens,"  exclaimed  the  captain  at  our 
gun,  "•  but  our  little  one  can  speak  for  herself !  " 

Then  the  ""  ^lerrimack "'  turned,  and  fired  CA'ery 
gun  of  her  terrible  broadside  at  the  little  champion. 
The  shot  mostly  A\'ent  OA'er  the  ''  Monitor  "  (which 
in  comparison  AA^th  her  huge  antagonist  seemed  but 
a  toy),  and  those  that  struck  her  glanced  off  harm- 
lessly into  the  sea. 

There  Avas  a  murmur  of  applause  among  our 
men,  Avho  were,  hoAveA^er,  not  yet  couA'inced  of  our 
defender's  invulnerability. 

'•'•  That 's  a  good  one  for  the  big  one  !  "  said  one 
of  the  men  ;  ''  hit  'em  again,  little  one  !  " 

And  then,  as  if  in  ansAver,  the  rebel  craft  at  close 
range  fired  broadside  after  broadside,  in  rapid  suc- 
cession, to  AA'hich  the  "  Monitor  "  replied,  until  the 
contestants  Avere  enshrouded  in  smoke. 


242  .FATIIIUl    AdAIXST    SON. 

Wlicn  tlio  smoke  clcai-fl  ;iii(l  ilie  little  '•'Moni- 
tor'" was  sct'ii  apparciith  uiiliiii't.  wliile  the  armor 
of  the  rebel  craft  was  repoHed  to  lie  lieiit  and 
loosened,  eoiilideiiee  lieL;-an  to  take  the  })laee  of 
(lonl)t   and    uiieerlaiiity. 

The  excitement  oil  hoard  was  so  L;'ivat  that  it  al- 
most hroke  he\-o!id  t  he  hoiuids  of  disci} iliiie.  ^^^lell 
tile  ••  Monitor'"  hnallv  la\-  alongside  the  hn^'e  ••  Mer- 
i'iiiia(d<  ""  (as  it  seemed  to  ns  almost  tonchinn' hei' ) 
an  old  sailor  at  oni'  L;nii  said  :  "  lUast  mv  eves,  hnt 
1   heliexc  tiie  little  olie  will  lii-k   her.  after  all  !  " 

Aftei-  lin-litiiiL;'  at  this  (dose  I'aii^'e  for  a  while  we 
saw  our  little  (diam|ii(Hi  still  uninjured,  dartinj^- 
around  the  \n-i^  iron-(dad  as  if  in  seai'idi  of  some 
weak  place,  and  at  the  sanu'  time  liriny  as  she 
mo\c(|. 

llert'very  motion  was  Avat(died  and  eonnnented 
on  :  we  were  in  a  ti'emor  of  expectation,  not  know- 
in^'  what  was  ,L;'oin^'  t(i  ha})pen  next.  It  was  like  a 
hL;'lit  hetween  two  knights  of  old.  stdeeted  to  repre- 
seid  opposing  foi'ees :  not  only  our  fate  bnt  the  fate 
of  eiiipii'e.  Jierhajis.  depended  on  the  issue.  It 
seenie(l  that  if  the  "  Merriinaid-;  ""  should  triumph  it 
meant  not  oidy  the  destruetion  of  the  war-ships  at 
nam[)ton  Ifoads  hut  the  estahlishment  of  a  South- 
ern eni[)ire  that  Avonld  control  the  continent,  the 
ruin  of  the  Repul)lic.  and  the  hulure  of  a  govern- 
ment 1)\-  and  for  all  the  people. 

'Idle  "  Merrimacdc  ""  eairied  ten  guns  to  the  "  ^[('U- 
itor's  ""  one  :  she  tired  at  least  two  shots  to  every  one 


IRON    MEETS    IRON.  243 

fired  by  the  Union  inni-clad,  Ijut  many  of  licr  shots 
missed  their  mark  and  strnrk  the  sea  l)eyond,  throw- 
ing up  fountain-Hkc  jtds  of  Avater. 

We  had  at  hrst  expected  so  littk^  from  the 
'*  Monitor,'"  slie  was  so  a[)[)arently  inferior  to  her 
anta^duist,  that  any  success  from  Tier  seemed  won- 
derfnh  I>nt  Avhcn  ])roadside  after  broadside,  at 
such  close  range  that  the  vessels  seemed  to  touch 
each  other,  liad  time  and  again  been  receiveil,  and 
the  little  craft  Avas  not  only  afloat,  but  as  the  old 
sailors  said  •■  making  spunky  replies  to  all  that  the 
big  felloAV  could  say,"  and  playing  at  will  annind 
her  gigantic  and  frowning  antagonist,  then  exclama- 
tions of  wonder  and  admiration  Ijroke  from  the  lips 
of  all  on  board. 

x\t  last,  after  this  strange  contest  had  lasted 
three  hours  or  more  (every  hour  seeming  a  day,  so 
great  was  the  suspense ),  and  the  ''  ^Merrimack " 
having  vainly  endeavored  to  ram  the  *"  ^Monitor " 
(which  had  l)een  able  to  avoid  the  blow  on  account 
of  lier  superior  quickness),  as  if  despairing  of  suc- 
cess against  her  lively  antagonist,  turned  and  steered 
once  more  for  our  ship.  As  she  came  in  point- 
l)lank  range  of  our  guns  we  gave  her  a  broadside 
that  would  have  Ijlown  out  of  water  any  wooden 
ship  in  the  world.  But  it  was  like  throwing  pebbles 
against  a  solid  rock.  She  returned  fire  with  her 
bow  gun,  sending  a  shell  crashing  into  us  that 
spread  destruction  through  our  shi[),  set  it  on  fire, 
and  tore  four  rooms  into  one.       The  second  shell 


244  FATiiini  A(;mxst  son. 

tliat  struck  us  ^lasscd  tliroiii;'!!  our  liull.  and  with  a 
tcrrilie  explosion  l)lc\v  up  a  litlle  Iul;'  IviuL;'  along- 
side, produrin^'  the  wildest  coiifusinn  on  board  our 
ship.  We  l)elie^"ed  We  were  ahout  to  meet  the  fate 
of   the  '•  C'on^-ress."" 

Another  shell  was  fii'ed  iiitn  us.  \\-heii  the  little 
"Monitor,""  1)\'  tlii'owiiiL;'  Inaself  lietween  the  two. 
eonij)elle(l  the  "  Mei'i'iniack  ""  to  ehaiiL^'e  her  }iosition, 
and  save(l  us  from  desli-uetion.  .lust  then,  how- 
e\'ei'.  the   rehel    ii'ou-clad   L;'ronnde(l. 

When  1  l(M)ked  from  the  ]»ort  ai^'ain  it  was  to  see 
the  '•  Mointor  ""  a[)[iarently  relii-e(l  from  the  fight, 
and  we  then  thought  she  had  received  a  mortal 
wound.  We  learned  later  that  this  was  occasioned 
li\-  a  hurt  received  hy  the  l)ra\'e  commander  of  the 
"Monitor.""  He  was  standing  in  the  jiilotdiotise 
directing  the  liglit  when  a  shell  stiiudv  and  ex[)loded 
directly  in  the  sight-hole  (or  slit)  through  Avhich 
he  ^\'as  looking.  lie  i'ecei\'ed  in  his  face  the  force 
of  the  hlow.  which  stunned  him  and  lilled  his  eyes 
with  powder,  blinding  and  confttsing  him.  Thiid^- 
ing  the  pilot-lantse  had  been  destroyed,  he  gave 
orders  to  withdraw  from  the  tight.  Yoitng  Lieu- 
tenant Green  took  command  and  steered  once  more 
for  the  enemy,  which  had  meanwhile  taken  advan- 
tage of  the  ••  Monitor's  ""  temporaiy  withdrawal  from 
the  fight  to  turn  tail  for  Xorh)lk. 

The  "  ^Monitor "'  lired  a  few  shots  at  the  retiring- 
craft,  l)Ut  the  "Merrimack*"  contintied  on,  accom- 
panied by  her  wooden  consorts,  reminding  me  of  a 


in  ox    MEETS    IRON.  245 

big  seliO()l-l)()y  l)ullv  bcinn'  lielpt'd  off  from  the  iicld 
after  an  unexpeeted  eheelc  made  by  a  smaller  l)ov. 
Then  the  old  sailoi's  l)egan  to  say  that  it  was  as 
plain  as  the  nose  on  your  face  that  the  "  ]\Ierri- 
maek  ""  was  glad  of  an  excuse  to  turn  tail. 

Thus  was  ended  the  most  remarkable  naval  battle- 
ever  fought  (all  things  considered),  for  in  this  figlit 
a  verdict  was  rendered  against  wooden  sliips.  In 
substance,  they  were  all  destroyed  on  that  eighth 
and  ninth  of  March,  1802;  for  after  this,  one  of 
our  ''  Mcjuitors  "'  would  have  been  com[)etent  to  sink 
all  the  wooden  ships  of  the  navies  of  the  world. 


2^6  FAi'iii:n   AdAiysT  son. 


ciiai'Ti:k  XXI. 


AFi'Ki:  'I'm-:  coxflict 


Tin-:  little  '■  .Mdiiiior,""  at'iciMlrix  iu^-  ]ierfonni(laI)l(' 
;iiit;iL;(iiiist  tVnm  1  hnuptdii  Ko;uls.  anrliorcM]  along- 
side tlie  '•  Miiniesota.""  as  111  lor  service  as  when 
slie  went  into  the  lii^'lil.  IW-yond  a  crack  in  the 
inm  Idi^s  of  ]iei'  pilot-house  and  a  few  dints  in  hei- 
tni'ret,  made  1)\'  the  hii^'e  shot  iVoni  the  I'ilied  ^ains 
of  the  *•  Merrinia(d<.""  she  was  eoinparatively  uniii- 
iiire(l. 

Whether  or  not  the  •■.Monitor""  was  a.  victor 
has.  I  am  Avell  a\\'are.  been  discussed,  al'iirmed.  and 
denied:  yet  it  has  never  heeii  (|Uestioned  that  tlie 
( 'oid'e(lerate  (ioliath  left  the  Held  of  the  fin'lit  to  (»ur 
Dax'id,  and  \^■as  at  once  ]»nt  into  the  dry  (h»cks  for 
i'ei)airs  at  Xorfolk. 

The  interest  ainonn'  us  in  the  -  Alonitoi' ""  was 
great.  Those  who  had  viewe*!  her  with  eontem[)t 
were  now  enthusiastic  in  their  admii'ation  of  her. 

*■'  lUast  me.  l)Ut  she  "s  a  kind  of  a  Mother  Cary's 
chicken  of  a  craft,"  said  Uill  Knowles.  an  old  man- 
of-war's  man  of  u\v  ac([uaintance,  while  we  were 
looking'  over  the  sides  of  the  "Minnesota""  down 
on  the  deidcof  the  littli'  craft.  "See  how  the  waxes 
go  right  over  her  I      Blame  my  eyes,  but  that  feller 


AFTER     THE    CONFfJCT.  247 

was  rig-lit  -wlii'ii  lie  said  slie  was  a  kind  of  a  sul)- 
niaiine  craft.  I  would  n't  be  astonislicd  it'  she 
should  dive  and  eouie  up  a  mile  from  us."* 

''What  I  don't  understaiul,"  said  another,  "is 
where  she  kee}is  all  of  her  guns." 

"  Guns  I  "  ejaculated  Knowles.  "  She  don't  carry 
but  two,  l>ut  them  's  regular  thunderbolts  !  " 

'•'  What  I  seed  Avith  my  own  eyes  I  seed,  and  jou 
nor  no  other  horse-marine  jackass  can't  make  me  see 
difrent.  Didn't  these  two  eyes  of  mine  see  *em 
shooting  from  that  queer  round  house  they  call  a 
tarret,  from  twelve  to  twenty  places  in  it?  And 
\\o\\\  though,  ye  can't  see  that  many  ports,  l)ut  it 
stands  to  reason  that  the  guns  is  there,  and  th'  port- 
holes too,  if  y'  can't  see  'em;  but  what  gits  the 
weather  gauge  of  me  is  where  they  keeps  them 
stowed  when  they  ain't  a-firing." 

"  Keep  'em  stowed  !  Why,  you  wolverine,"  said 
Jim  Knowles,  ''  while  they  "re  firin'  one  they  're 
loadin'  the  rest  of  'em  down  in  the  hold;  they  act 
as  ballast  there,  or  she  'd  be  top  heavy  with  all  that 
iron  above  decfe." 

Arid  with  this  Jim  winked  a  prolonged  wdnk 
on  one  side  of  Ids  face  and  looked  wise  on  the 
other. 

"  Well,  shipmates,"  said  another,  "  between  me 
and  the  mainmast,  Avhat  gits  down  to  the  roots  of 
my  hair  is,  how  they  anchor  her  without  a  chain, 
windlass,  or  anchor." 

"  I    know    where    her    smoke-stacks    are,"    said 


248 


FATIIKll    .K.'AfXST    SOX. 


iiiiotlicr   old   salt  :   "  I   sec   tlic  smoke  ('ome  out  of 
tliiMii    two   slits    in    lii'i'    deck."" 

'•  I>(■la^'  tlici'c  !  ""  said  aiiotlicf  :  '■  Iht  siuokc-staeks 
arc  on  tlif  liottoni  side  of  her.  and  liv  a  sort  of 
(.'coiKHiix'  o'  foi'ccs  llii'\   disciiai'L;'('  it  in  tli"  water! 

*••  Lik'ch".'"  asscnt«M]  aiiotlier:  ••  "t  would  n"t  Itc  no 
nioi'c  slran^'c  than  the  rest  of  this  rraft  that  can't 
l»c  hnrl,  and  l^-ocs  aronnd  hca\cns  kno\\'s  how.  and 
hL^hts  a  liii;'  lundicrini;'  ci'al't  that  smashed  c\-ci-y- 
ihiiiL;'  to  tlindci's  till  this  little  craft  come  alon^- 
and  lai'nc(l  her  better  mannei's.  Now  jest  look"  at 
her  crew  settin"  "round  on  her  deck.  Not  one  ol 
them,  the\'  sa\-.  was  hurt,  and  was  as  cond'ortable 
all  the  time  as  if  that  i-elx'l  ii'oii  craft  was  j"st 
throwin"    l)"iled    "taters    at    "em    "slid    "f  kin'  shot."' 

••  Well,  shipmates."'  said  Knowdes,  who  was  an 
oracle  on  hoard.  "  whatexi'r  is  oi-  is  n"t.  one  tiling-  is 
tiaie,  that  little  craft  ont  thai'"  preached  a  sermon  on 
Sunda\-  that  the  ( 'onfe(U'rates  won"t  for^■it  in  one 
while,  and  that  keat  all  the  sky-i)ilots  of  the  navv." 

We  were  not  alone  in  our  woiuk/r  and  enthu- 
siasm for  tlie  little  craft,  for,  with  the  tiashini;'  ky 
tele,L;'raiik  of  the  tidin^'s  of  this  iiL^'ht,  tliere  was 
excitement  in  every  town   ami  villaL;-e  of  tke  lan(k 

'I'hus  it  was  that  the  i^'loom  and  uncertainty  of 
Alonckiy,  Alareh  tlie  Sth,  gave  place  to  rejoicing- 
and  eonfidenee.  No  wonder  that  many  of  our 
people  felt  that  in  tlu'  op})ortune  app'-aran^e  of 
the  ''Monitor""  (lod  liad  leaidied  foi'th  iiis  hand 
for  our  natioifs  protection. 


AFTER     THE    CONFLICT.  2!0 

Almost  l)('fore  the  fight  between  the  iron-rLids 
was  over,  measures  were  taken  for  the  abandonment 
of  the  "  Minnesota."  This  ^\•as  soon  aeeomplislied, 
and  I  was  onee  more  at  Fort  ]\Ionroe,  where  I  ol)- 
tained  leave  to  visit  Phil  and  our  other  wounded 
shipmates  at  Newport  News. 

I  found  Phil  sitting-  in  front  of  a  hospital  tent. 
He  was  quite  cross  because  I  had  left  NeA\port 
News  without  seeing  him. 

^  I  was  under  Lieutenant  Prendergrast's  orders 
just  as  much  as  I  was  when  on  ship  Ijoard,"  I  said. 
"  Besides,  you  know  you  would  have  wanted  to  go, 
and  that  was  n't  best.  The  surgeon  told  me  y(ju  \1 
got  to  keep  still  awhile  or  you  was  likely  to  have 
trouble  with  your  arm.'' 

''  That  old  saw-bones,  "  ejaculated  Phil  crossly, 
"  makes  a  mountain  of  this  molehill  of  a  scratch. 
Why  look  a-here,"  said  Phil,  suiting  the  action  to 
his  words,  ''  I  can  use  this  arm  "  —  But  here  his 
remarks  on  the  subject  ended,  for  a  decided  pallor 
and  an  expression  of  pain  came  to  his  face,  which 
seemed  to  illustrate  to  him,  as  well  as  to  myself, 
that  he  had  a  very  sore  arm. 

"You  must  stop  that  kind  of  fooling,  Phil,"  I 
said,  as  I  assisted  him  in  replacing  his  wounded 
limb  carefully  in  its  sling,  '^  or  yow  will  give  the 
sky-pilot  a  last  job  for  yourself !  " 

"•  Well,  maybe  you  are  right,  Hez,"  said  Phil, 
with  a  twinge  of  pain  still  evident  in  the  expression 
of  liis  face.    "  I  guess  I  '11  have  to  keep  this  arm  in 


ioO  FATHini    ACAIXST    SOX. 

its  li;iinni()clv  tor  a  whik'  loiin'cr.  Hut  say.  speak- 
iiii;'i)t'  tlic  sl-;\'-piliit  rt'iniiids  iiu'  that  the  cliaplaiii 
sail],  when  he  was  in  to  S(.'e  me  a  little  while  ago, 
that  there  is  a  ( 'oinieetieut  rei;inient  aliout  a  half 
mile  from  hei'e  in  camp.  'I'lie  ehajilain  is  from  the 
Xntmen'  State,  ami  is  a  tine  old  man.  Now,  what 
saN'?  SnpjiosiiiL;'  we  n'o  (h>wn  and  si'e  it  there  is 
an\-   one   irom    W'ichiior  there? 

1  assented,  and  Phil  wc'iit  to  see  the  hospital 
steward.  an<l  so(.in  returned,  saying' :  -It's  all  right ; 
the  steward  says  "t  will  do  me  good  I  " 

Wdien  we  arri\'ed  at  the  eamp  of  the  — th  C'on- 
neetieut  we  found  sevei'al  [u'rsons  whom  we  knew, 
and  after  ehatting  au'hile  with  them  started  off  to 
see  others  fi'om  our  town  who  we  had  been  told 
were  in  eamp.  We  had  arrived  at  the  end  of  one 
oi'  tlie  eom}ianv  streets,  near  a  large  overgrown  tent, 
when  some  one  ealled  out  to  us: 

••  Hullo.  l)roadd»ritehes,  where  be  ye  goin' ?  "' 

It  was  Jim  Bisbee.  He  was  eating  sutler's  pies, 
''with  an  energy,"  as  Phil  said,  "worthy  of  better 
i.ies.- 

'■  Hidlo."  T  said,  "have  you  got  a  eontraet  to  eat 
all  tliat  stuff?" 

••(ioshi  no,"  said  Jim,  grinning:  "wish  I  had, 
though,"  and  then,  as  lu'  l)it  into  the  pie,  extended 
his  hand  for  a  shake,  and  greeted  us  (between 
bites)    very    heartily,  saying: 

"  I  snnm,  how  l)e  y" '!  It  seems  kinder  like  hum 
t'  see  v<»nr  faees  ;  it  does.  I  vow  I     Ain't  it  awful 


AFTER     THE    CONFLICT.  251 

ofettiner  'nouo-h  t'  eat  daown  liere  in  rebellion  ?  That 
is,  sonrtliin'  that  goes  t'  the  spot?  I  get  daown  t' 
this  sutler's  sli()[)  'baout  this  time  o'  Jay,  "cause  "t 
is  jest  'fore  drill  time.  Wife  sent  me  a  ])ig  box  o' 
nice  provisions  last  week,  an'  a  lot  of  greenl)acl-:s; 
an'  I  "v'  e't  up  the  fust  an'  begun  on  the  second; 
which  is  t'  say,  T  'v'  jist  begun  to  convert  green- 
Ijacks  int"  stuff  t"  eat." 

''Should  think  3-ou 'd  use  up  your  wages  pretty 
fast  at  the  rate  you  are  going  on,  Mr.  Eisl^ee,"  said 
Phil. 

"■  Git  aouti  "  said  Jim  ;  "  my  wages  don't  'maount 
t'  shucks  ;  f 'r  this  sutler's  stuff  's  j'st  like  fog ;  it 
don't  stick  ly  y'  or  lill  up  wuth  a  cent;  I  can  eat 
a  cord  on  it  an'  not  git  full.  Tell  y" !  I  've  be'n 
drefful  hungry  sometimes.  IJut  talkin'  of  myself 
makes  me  forgit  tliat  you  've  had  hard  times  tu. 
Have  a  pie  ?  "  and  Jim  handed  us  one  apiece. 

"  Well,  as  you  are  a  man  of  property,"  I  said,  '■'•  I 
suppose  they  are  glad  to  trust  you  when  you  get 
out  of  mone}'." 

'■'•'Fore  this  money  come,''  said  Jim,  "I'd  used 
up  all  my  pay,  and  I  ast  'em  t'  trust  for  a  few 
douo-hnuts  and  crackers  an'  cheese  and  sich.  This 
dunimed  sutler  said  he  would  n't  do  it.  I  told  him 
I  owned  tew  farms  an'  a  lot  o'  truck,  an'  he  said, 
darn  him,  '  Bring  on  y'r  truck  an'  we  '11  trade ; '  so 
y'  see,  I  've  be'n  losin'  flesh." 

"You  ain't  losing  your  appetite,  though,"  said 
Phil,  with  a  sly  grin,  for  he  liked  to  hear  Jim  talk. 


25 2  PA  7 7/ /; /.'   A  (.A  I xs 7 •  s ox. 

"■No,"  said  Jim,  witli  a  dultioiis  sinile,  "T  snuni, 
tliat  stic]-;s  In  iik.'  closrr  tliau  m\'  skin.  'Less  tlie 
war  rnds  drcrt'nl  i|nitl<.  I  "ni  fraixMl  "twill  lii'  tlT 
riiinatiiin  (if  mc.  I  "w  rat  up  tew  cows  an"  a  lioss 
already,  [ilaL^ue   it'  I    liaiiTt  !  "" 

'•  It  "s  awful  I ""  said  I'liil,  winking-  at  nie.  ''  I  've 
o'ot  a  pretty  141  hhI  appetite  myself. "" 

'•Ileiv,  ha\e  some  more  pie,"  said  -Jim,  and  tlien 
eontiniung  said  :  '•  l)Ut  where  was  y"  wlieii  that 
awful    }n>^   hn'ht    was   a-n'oin'   on   o*    Saturckiy?" 

''We  were  on  hoard  the  '  Coiio-ress,"  "  I  said, 
''and  riiil  ^\'as  wounded;  ha\en"t  you  iiotieed  that 
his  arm  is  in  a  sHiil;'  '■  " 

.lim  sto[)[)e(l  faliuL;',  and,  hieinii;'  us  for  tlie  first 
time  sinee  lie  had  hailed  us,  dro[)ped  his  pie  and 
ejaculated  : 

"I'm  a  selfish  lunkhead  not  t'  'ave  seen  it! 
Say,  Phil,  du  y"  feel  had  any  ^vays  ?  If  there's 
auythin"  y'  see  "round  liei'e  that  y"  want,  say  the 
word  an'   th*   fur  Hies  !  " 

And  the  tears  stai'ted  to  the  generous  fellow's 
e\cs,  at  the  thought  that  I'Uil  was  wounded  and  he 
had  taken  110  nolit-e  of  the  fact  l)efore. 

"Oh,  r  am  all  right,  Jim,"  said  Phil;  "the  old 
<loetor  down  here  makes  a  l)ig  fuss  over  noth- 
ing." 

"  I/t  me  jist  look  at  that  sore  arm,  f"r  Avhen  I 
write  hum  I  want  t"  tell  'hoiit  it." 

"  Xo,  you  don't  I ""  said  Phil;  "one  regular  saw- 
hones  is  enouii'h." 


AFTER     Till-:    CONFLICT.  253 

"  Gosli,  I  woiiiU'i  y'  "re  liviii'  t'  tell  on 't ! "'  said 
Jim,  al'ti'r  we  had  told  him  alH)ut  our  experience  in 
tlie  l)attle  of  Saturday'.  "•  I  just  tuck  a  part  in 
that  gosh-dauLjed  light  myself  ;  an'  I  don"  know 
what  I  sh"d  "a"  done  if  1  "d  been  exposed  tu  th" 
[)erils  of  the  deep,  l)esides  tliem  shot  Ijigger  "n 
hogsheads  that  eome  a-howlin"  round  here  !  I  j"st 
fired  an'  loaded ;  an"  iired  so  fast  that  I  found  five 
charges  o'  cartridges  in  that  musket  th"  next  day 
that  had  forgot  t' go  onto'  that  gun  ;  snum  if  I 
did  n't !  Wal,  "s  I  was  a-sayin'  when  I  stop[)ed 
t"  tell  you  "bout  tlie  way  that  ole  gun  acted :  we 
loaded  an'  fired  an'  ke})'  advancin'  on  th'  enemy, 
an'  shuttin'  up  our  eyes  an'  firin',  an'  dressin'  on 
th'  colors ;  an'  't  Avas  livel}'  times,  an'  that  "s  wdiat 
makes  me  so  dunnned  hungry,  I  du  l)"lieve  I "' 

"If  the  enemy  had  1)een  the  sutler,"  said  Phil, 
"they'd  been  totally  destroyed,  would  n't  they?" 

Jim  smiled  as  he  said,  '*  Xaow,  Phil  Gurley, 
that 's  the  truth  ;  but  honor  bright,  we  just  banged 
away  at  'em  like  all  p'sessed !  But  say,  Phil 
Gurle)-,  ain"t  y'  goin'  t'  let  me  have  a  peek  at  that 
sore  arm  ?  " 

"  Stop  your  nonsense!"  said  Phil;  "it's  noth- 
ing but  a  scratch,  an'  I  don't  want  you  fooling 
with   it." 

"Wal,  Phil,"'  said  Jim,  "I  didn't  mean  anythin* 
but  well  by  ye,  ye  know  I  don"t,  an"  I  don't  know 
as  I  blame  ye.  I  never  like  t'  be  fussed  over 
m'self.     So  }'  \A'as  reely  aout  there  on  th'  deep  ? 


254 


FATlll'Ji    AdMXSr    Si)X. 


Will,  (lid  ii't  it  beat  ;i]]  iialiii'"'.''  —  tliat  old  iron  roof 
of  a  Xo.dTs  ark  I  1  woiidt'i'  tlu'rc  "s  a  !_;'r('asc-s[)ot 
of  any  of  us  Irl't.  1  calciilatiMl  I  was  th"  only 
Wiclinoi'  fcllci-  tlial  "d  ]i\c  t"  cai'rv  bad-;  tli"  news. 
\\\  L';uiii  I  sdiiic  o"  oui-  I'clltTs  was  awful  scat:  "t 
was  'haoul  all  llic  (^[/ii  an"  iiic  could  du  t"  kccj) 
"cni    ill    line."" 

''  Wdiat  did  you  keep  "cm  in  line  willi  ?  or  did  iTt 
you  keep  tliciii  in  line,  l)iU   on]\-  ti'icd?"'   said  riiil. 

"  ()[  course,"  sai<l  .liiii.  with  a  di'oll  twinkle  in 
his  ew'S,  "we  liad  a  si^iit  o"  troul>le  "liaout  it. 
Every  time  our  f(dlers  fell  hatdv  th"  ca|)"n  aiT 
me  "(1  L^'o  liack  an"  ralh'  "em  an"  dress  "cm  on  th' 
liindmosl  one.  We  just  liad  a  tiirrihle  tussh.' 
liin'O  I  Til"  eap"ii  lost  his  liat.  an"  lie  drawe(l  liis 
swoi'd  an"  wi'id  t"  llnd  it.  an"  L;dt  lost  in  th* 
swaiiiji  :  li\'  ^'um  if  he  did  n"t  !  Tlien  I  said  t"  oui' 
l)oys,  •  l''orra"d  I  We  "11  I'escue  the  t-ap"]!  an"  his  liat, 
or  die  on  the  lield  o"  i^'lory  an"  mud  I  "  And  just 
then  one  o*  them  hii;'  shot  come  u[(  the  hill,  sa\'in" 
'  Ssseeattt  I  '  An"  dminiied  "f  e\ery  last  one  o"  them 
]nen  <lid  n"t  dii;'  f"r  that  swamp  like  all  j)"sessed  ; 
the\-  "Iteved  orders  t'  the  letter  —  an"  I  in  advance 
tu,  'cause  T  had  t'  dress  'em  on  the  colors.  I 
shouldn't  like  t'  he  on  l)oard  of  a  ship,""  continued 
Jim,  •'  f"r  ther'  ain't  no  lield  thar*  f"r  tine  niano'u- 
vrin'." 

"  Pr(^motion  isn't  so  rapid  in  the  navy  as  in  the 
army,  hut  tliere  is  all  the  liniiting-  any  one  eoidd 
desire,"  I  said  :   ''  at  least  we  've  found  it  so.'" 


AFTFAl     'J'lli:    COXFLICT.  255 

'' Wal,  say,  y'  know  I  'in  a  corp'ral  ?  "  said  Jim. 

*•'  You  've  got  up  [)retty  well,"  said  Phil.  ''  I 
suppose  a  cor[)oral  is   (piite  a  fellow,  ain't  he? 

"  .V  feller  !  "  said  Jim  ;  '•  guess  not :  he  's  'u  of- 
eer  I  You  know  Nvheu  I  fust  got  t'  he  a  eor[»oral 
I  thought  I'd  sto[)  wantin'  t'  be  higher,  hut  it 
did  n't  seem  t'  satisfy  ;  I  know  naow  haow  Xapoleoii 
felt,  an'  kep"  feelin"  till  he  just  wanted  t'  gol)l)le 
th"    whole   airth."' 

"•  That  would  inelude  sutlers'  sho[)S  and  all,  I 
suppose?"  said  Phil. 

"  Yes,"  said  Jim,  ''  tli'  whole  boodle  of  'em. 
Say,  hev'  a  doughnut?  They  ain't  nuich  tu  'em; 
kind  o'  sweetened  rainl)ows  ;  yer  can  eat  a  [jeek 
on  'em  an'  not  know  it." 

In  this  way  Jim  continued  drolling  on,  making 
us  laugh,  and  enjoying  the  fun  himself,  while  seem- 
ing to  be  in  earnest.  He  made  many  in(;[uiries 
about  our  prospects,  and  gave  us,  in  his  inimital)le 
manner,  some  shrewd  advice. 

\Yhen  I  told  him  I  Avas  on  the  "  Minnesota"  on 
Sunday,  and  saw  the  tight  between  the  "■  ^lerri- 
niack"  and  the  ''Monitor,"  Jim  was  greatly  inter- 
ested, and  said  solemnly : 

"I  feel  turribul  'sponsible  'baout  you,  Hez,  f'r  I 
fust  put  it  in  y'r  mother's  head  t'  let  y'  liav'  a  tr}' 
at  the  sea.  My  exper'nce  did  n't  seem  t'  du  a 
speck  o'  good  in  keepin'  y'  ashore ;  an'  naow  y' 
stand  a  chance  o'  gittin'  drounded  an"  killed 
both." 


:J.><i  lAi'iiER   AdMxsr  soy. 

.lust  llicu  ;i  (Iniiii  souiidfd.  aii<l  Jim  said. 
" 'riicrc 's  tliat  jK'sky  dniiii  calliii"  iiic  t"  ai'iiis  a^-"iii  I 
I'^ust  its  i'(-\-ih'f.  tlit'ii  it  "s  i^iiard-iiiiuuit.  uv  drt-ss- 
paradt'.  r  sdiiic  duiiniiiMl  tliiiiL;-  all  tin'  tiiin'  — now 
tiiat  "s  di'ill.  Sii"|Misc  I  "\"  ^dt  t"  ti'aiu  in\'  L;i/./.ai'd 
aout.    "tore    I  "in    liaf    full    tu  !  '" 

Aud  sliakiiiL;'  liands  with  us.  .lim  stai'tcd  for  his 
tt'id.  and  Sdou  i-ca]»|icariM|  ti'\iii!4'  to  liurklc  on  his 
l)flt   aud   cat    }iic   at    the   same   time. 

••  I  )ut\'  calls  !""  said  .1  iiu  with  a  wiidx.  aud  haviuL;' 
adjusted  his  l»clt  aud  lioltcd  his  pic.  he  inarchc(l  to 
dutv  at  i-i^ht  shoulder  shift  iu  a  \'ery  soldierly 
luaiuicr. 

■'Jim  is  a  n'ood  ouc."  said  Phil,  "aud  it  did  me 
lots  of  i^'ood  to  lu'ar  him  iniu  •  so  like  a  saw- 
mill.* as  he  calls  it  :  he  talked  most  of  that  iioii- 
seiise  just  to  make  us  laUL;-h  ;  for  you  ami  evciy  one 
that  knows  liim  knows  that  he  's  got  a  lot  of  yot^d 
seiisi'." 

After  reniaiuing  with  Phil  for  tlie  day.  I  returned 
to  the  fort  and  found  that  a  mail  had  come  for  our 
ship's  crew.  I  received  two  letters  from  home:  one 
iif  these  was  from  my  luothei'.  and  the  other  from 
grandhither.  The  last  rtdated  to  getting  ap[)oint- 
ments   for  Phil  and  me  in  the  navy. 

The  cause  of  delay,  as  grandfather  said,  he  had 
ascertained  to  he  that  the  rules  prevented  our 
l)eing  appointed  to  the  positions  of  either  master's 
mates  or  ensigns  until  we  were  eighteen  years  of 
age.     "•  We  will  stretch    a  point  and  say  you  are 


AFl'FJl     Tin:    CONFLICT.  257 

seventeen  now.  so  in  another  year  yoii  '11  get  yonr 
appointments.  ^Nlean  while  apj)ly  yonrselves  to 
learning-  everything  that  will  be  of  use  to  you  in 
those  positions." 

I  felt  rather  blue  over  it,  for,  boj-like,  I  Avas  im- 
patient and  did  not  recognize  that,  as  grandfather 
often  had  said,  "The  world  was  n't  made  in  a  day." 

The  letter  from  mother  enclosed  a  letter  she  had 
received  from  father.  As  shown  by  the  post-mark, 
he  had  found  some  way  of  having  it  mailed  in 
Washington,  and  so  the  letter  had  ^'cached  her 
sealed.  In  the  letter  I  noticed  that  father's  senti- 
ments had  changed,  for  he  spoke  of  the  South  as 
"  my  country,"  and  there  were  mingled  in  his  ut- 
terances little  touches  —  such  as  speaking  of  the 
Northern  people  as  '"•  the  eneni}-,"  its  government 
as  "  the  abolition  government,"  and  Mr.  Lincoln  as 
"  your  president."  I  could  not  understand  how  so 
fair-minded  a  man  could  so  change.  This  was  all 
the  more  wonderful  when  I  considered  that  origi- 
nally he  had  been  opposed  to  secession,  and  had  been 
at  heart  a  Union  man.  But  I  did  not  then  under- 
stand how  the  constant  misrepresentations  of  the 
Confederacy,  of  its  press  and  of  its  government, 
made  every  act  of  our  people  seem  wrong,  and  em- 
bittered the  Southern  heart.  Civil  war  cannot  be 
carried  on  long  without  producing  that  effect. 
Neither  did  I  at  that  time  understand  the  power  of 
public  sentiment,  wrought  to  frenzy  in  a  desperate 
struggle  like  that  on  which  the  Southern  people  had 


:i.)S 


r.i  77//;/,"     1^  i/.v\7'  snx. 


fiiiliarl^cd.  'I1ic  ])()litici;iiis.  ]i;i\iiiL;'  lirdii^lit  on  the 
\\;ii'.  iiiusl  succeed  or  lie  ruined,  aiiil  tliey  [irnniotcd 
the  feeling;'  "I  raLjc  and  bitterness  aiiioiiL;' tlie  jieople. 

Tims  tlie  l)l{i\\s.  I'nst  reliictanlh"  L;iven  1)V  nmst  of 
tlie  Sontlici'ii  jieojile.  t;-rew  iiioi-c  and  more  \iolent. 
nntil  1o  kill  ^  anl\ces  seemcil  a  L;'lorions  act  anionic' 
lliis  nat  nralK  cliixalrons  and  l^indh' iieojile.  'i'lien, 
besides  this.  1  did  not  I'cali/.e  the  tact  that  my  hither 
was  liv  edncation  and  traininL;'  ;i  Southern  man. 
and  thai  when  amoni;'  his  own  jieople  once  more 
Ids  moderate  sentiments  might  [irove  only  skin 
deep. 

Still,  in  m\'  mind  he  Mas  ahoM'  orilinarv  men, 
a.nd  could  ne\('r  he  capahle  of  an  act  that  was  per- 
soualh'  mean  oi'  dishoiiorahle. 

Vet  the  hict  remained  that  I  was  of  intenselv 
I'liioii  sentiments,  anil  my  hithei-.  whom  I  lo\'e(l 
aho\  (■  all  men,  was  a  rehel.  and  seemeil  to  Ixdieve 
himself  ri^'ht  in  hghtinn'  on  the  other  side.  It  was 
"father  aLiainst  sun." 


ON    THE    -  Sl'lTFlREy  25'J 


CHAPTER     XXTI. 


ox    THE    '^  SPITFIRE, 


Ox  the  29tli  of  April,  18(32,  Phil  and  T  were 
assigned  to  duty  on  the  "Spitfire,'"  a  gun-hoat  of 
light  draft  intended  for  iidand  waters  and  river 
serviee.  She  was  Avhat  at  that  time  was  known  as 
a  double  ender  —  sharp  at  liotli  ends  so  tliat  she 
could  back  out  where  she  could  not  turn  around. 

Grandfather  liad  written  to  nie,  saying :  '*  I  have 
brought  so  much  influence  to  bear  on  the  author- 
ities at  the  Naval  Department  at  Washington  that, 
if  it  don't  move  them.  I  think  it  may  agitate  them 
some." 

We  had  little  (h)ubt  that  our  Ijeing  assigned  to 
duty  on  the  ''  Spitfire  "  was  one  of  the  symptoms 
of  this  agitation,  in  order  that  we  might  stand  a 
better  chance  for  promotion. 

When  I  learned  that  the  steamer  was  to  be 
placed  in  service  on  the  inland  waters  of  North 
Carolina,  I  had  a  vague  hope,  foolish  as  it  may  here 
seem,  that  I  might  be  able  to  get  tidings  of,  or  per- 
haps have  an  interview  with,  my  father.  To  do 
this  I  felt  that  I  was  Avilling  to  risk  much,  and 
undergo  almost  any  hardship.  Though  an  inter- 
view of  this  nature  occurred,  yet  had  I  known  the 


200  fatiu:r  against  son. 

conditions  nndcr  A\liicli  tliis  wish  of  mine  was  to 
l)e  n'nnitrd.  I  (•(Hit'css  1  should  lia\('  slirunk  from 
tJM'  oi'dcal.  It  is  fortuuatr  tliat  \\'i' cannot  forct'ast 
the  future,  otherwise  liow  many  would  shrink  fi-om 
a  })lain  coui'sc  of  duty  I 

\Vc  joined  the  ••  Spittirc  ""  at  t!ie  IJrooklvn  Navy 
"^'ai'd,  A\'hci'c  she  was  un(h'ri;'()injj;'  re[)aii's  in  the  (h'y 
dock.  ()n  re[iortinL;'  we  were  siir[)rised  to  tind  that 
the  lieutenant  conniiandin^'  was  a  heai'dlcss  ^•outh 
scarcelv  tweiity-thi'ee  yeai's  of  a^'e,  and  looking' 
even  vonnnt'i' than  his  a^'c  would  iiujily.  lie  was 
a  gi'aduate  of  the  Anna[tolis  Academy,  and  had 
Avon  the  position  he  then  occupied.  o\-er  older  and 
more  t'X}»erienced  olticers  than  hinrself.  1>\"  coolness, 
])ravcry,  and  L;'ood  judLjincnt.  ( )ne  would  scarcely 
lu'lieve.  to  see  this  beardless.  s[)indle-shaidce(h  tow- 
headed,  hoyish-look'iuL;'  [xu'son,  that  he  liad  already 
distinguished  himself  in  some  of  the  most  daring 
deeds  of  our  na\al   warfare. 

When  Phil  and  I  reported  for  duty,  seeing  Lien- 
tenant  Dash  way  on  deck,  and  thinking  he  was  one 
of  the  midslii[)nu'n,  we  entered  into  conversation 
Avith  him  and  talked  nuich  more  freely  than  Ave 
should  have  done  had  we  known  that  he  was  our 
eonnnandiug  officer.  He  asked  us  a  great  many 
questions,  and,  as  sailors  would  phrase  it  expres- 
sively, ""  pumped  us  dry."  We  \A-ere  not  a  little 
taken  l)ack  when,  on  asking,  '••  What  kind  of  a 
captain  have  Ave  got  here?"  his  manner  changed 
from  familiarity  to  sternness,  as  he  replied  : 


ON    THE    ■•  SPITFIRE.''  201 

"Iain  in  command  hert' :  yon  will  report  yonr- 
self  to  the  execntiw  (tt'ticer  for  duty  at    once."" 

Tlic  ••  Spitfire  "  was  sc-liooner-riLj'.u'ed,  and  carried 
two  pivot-g'uns  and  cig'lit  tliirtv-pounders  on  her 
sides.  The  next  day  being  Sunday  and  the  -  S[)it- 
fire ""  l)eing  ready  for  sea,  we  hauled  out  into  the 
stream  and  steamed  down  the  harbor,  out  beyond 
Sandy  Hook,  and  down  the  coast. 

Among  the  men  on  board  there  were  two  whom 
I  had  [)reviously  known  on  the  "•  Congress  ;  ""  one 
of  them  was  Bill  Knowles  and  the  other  a  young 
sailor  named  Winshn\",  a  Cape  Cod  man,  well  up 
in  seamanshi[),  though  with  small  education. 

We  steamed  along  the  coast  without  events 
worthy  of  note,  until  off  Hatteras,  when  on  round- 
ing the  cape  the  wind  gradually  rose,  the  sea 
became  very  rough,  and  tlie  sky  had  a  dull,  leaden 
look   tliat   l^etokened  a  so'-easter. 

At  al)out  two  o'clock  the  wind  was  still  rising,  and 
the  sea  was  so  rough  that  we  had  our  hands  full. 
Our  craft  was  kept  on  the  port  tack,  hove-to  under 
close-reefed  foresail  and  mainsail.  In  the  driving- 
mist  and  rain  it  soon  grew  dark.  It  was  my  watch; 
the  decks  of  the  little  craft  were  drenched  with 
spray  which  was  charged  with  phosphoric  glare 
that  added  to  the  wildness  of  the  storm. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  an  arch  of 
light  rising  in  the  Avest  told  us  of  a  sudden  change 
of  wind.  The  mainsail  was  quickly  lowered,  and 
when  the  storm  struck  us  the  fore-sheet  was  shifted 


2(i2 


FA  Tin:  J!    ANALYST    SON. 


over.  Wlicii  our  cral't  would  siul-;  down  in  the 
tl'oUL^'li  of  tlic  sea  I  could  sec  the  ]lllo^|>llor('S(•(•nt 
^v;d(•l■  lii^li  alio\r  llic  lf\cl  of  our  decks,  and  at 
times  it  si'ciikmI  as  i  I'  it  would  lie  iniiiossiMe  tor  us 
to   ride  out   the  sloi'iii. 

Wdien  I  turned  in  the  stoi'in  was  i^a^in;,;-  with 
iiicrcasin',;'  fur\  :  Imt  ^\•llen  in  the  rnoriiinL;  it  was 
ni\"  watch  on  deck.  1  found  to  ni\-  astoinshnieiit  that 
the  sun  was  shining;',  tiic  wind  iiad  aliatiMl.  and  our 
little  ci'.d't  was  steaming'  once  more  alon^'  the  coast 
under  full  sail. 

"\Vh\  is  it,""  I  said  to  Knowles.  "that  there  are 
so  man\   sudileii  chaiiLj'es  oft    llatteras'/ 

'"  I  don"t  know,  an"  1  douht  if  any  one  else  does,  ' 
m'rowled  Kiiowdes.  ••  T  only  know  it  is  the  most 
idianm'alile  liere  of  an\'  place  on  our  c(iast.  an"  as  to 
the  w  li\s  and  whei'td'ores  you  mi^ht  "s  -well  try  to 
account  for  voni-  mother-in-laws  temper  six  months 
after  marriau'e."" 

''Mr.  lUdl  oiice  told  me,""  said  Phil,  '"that  these 
sudden  (dian^'es  are  ^hiui^'ht  to  ]n'  caused  hy  the 
H'ulf  stream  heini;'  so  much  nearer  the  coast  here 
than  at  any  otlun  j»oint  :  and  that,  \\itli  the  fact 
that  the  Avater  (leei)ens  very  ra^iidly  from  the  shore 
to  one  hundred  fathoms  ami  then  falls  abruptly  to 
oA'er  tw"o  thousand  ti\e  hundred,  is  thought  to  have 
something  to  do  with  the  sudden  aiul  capricious 
Weather   here."" 

"  I  guess  that  is  a  new-fangled  reason,'"  said 
Knowdes,  "for  I  nex'er  heard  of  it  before;   l)ut  I've 


ON    THE    "spitfire:'  2(33 

heard  the  Hatteras  lisliernicii  say  that  lightniiiL;' 
can  be  seen  from  the  hght-hoiise  there  at  any  time 
of  the  year." 

''Yes,"  said  IMiil,  ''I  liave  lieard  John  Nixon  say 
almost  the  same  thing." 

That  day  we  passed  through  Hatteras  Inlet,  and 
signaled  the  liag-shi[)  that  afternoon. 

The  next  morning,  having  received  orders,  we 
steamed  up  Pandieo  Sound,  where  we  were  to 
watch  at  the  moutli  of  one  of  tlie  rivers  for  vessels 
that  were  attempting  to  run  the  blockade.  For, 
the  general  coast  being  clear,  it  was  only  at  such 
points  that  they  could  load  with  cotton  and  turpen- 
tine, and  attempt  to  evade  our  vigilance  by  emerg- 
ing from  the  interior  Ijy  the  })assage  of  these  rivers 
in  the  night. 

It  was  a  very  monotonous  and  tiresome  service, 
and  the  old  sailors  were  inclined  to  growl,  especially 
those  who,  like  Knowles,  had  seen  more  exciting 
and  remunerative  service  in  blockading  duty  on  the 
coast. 

"We  might  just  as  well  be  on  wheels,"  said 
Knowles,  "  as  to  be  foolin'  'round  here  !  I  like  a 
little  prize  money  in  mine,  and  l)lue  water  instead 
of  these  dirtj  rivers,  where  you  can't  turn  'round 
without  danger  o'  gettin'  aground  and  stirrin'  up 
the  mud.  Alx)ut  all  we  can  expect  to  get  here  is 
the  shakes  and  fever.  There  's  the  master's  mate 
sick   with   it,  aud  the  whole  ship's   company  will 


204  FA  Tin: I!    AGAINST    SOX. 

]ia\'('  til  n'o  into  ili'v  dnrk  to  get  these  malarial  l)ar- 
iiacli's  ol'f  of  "(Mil  1)V  and  l>y.'' 

••  l')(']a\-  tlici-c  !  ""  said  an  old  sailoi'  tliat  had 
sailcil  with  ihf  licutciiaiit  loiigc'r  than  the  rest 
of  tlir  ship's  crew.  ••  It'  yon  ai'c  thiiikin"  there  ain"t 
giiiir  to  he  aii\"  lively  times  on  lioard  this  lu'i-e 
t-ral't.  v"  diiiTt  know  nnndi  almut  the  chap  that's 
in  eoiumand  !  Why.  shipmates,  he  "s  more  in  love 
with  tronhle  lliaii  tlie  most  of  lis  is  \vitli  our  hivad 
haskets.  If  he  don't  eut  out  some  work  to  shake 
the  harnaeles  off  of  y".  and  the  lever  out  of  v",  too, 
then  \ '  ma\'  i-all  me  a  luhher  I 

'■An'  \"  make  a  nhstake  in  supjiosin"  there's 
no  danger  here."  chimed  in  anothei'  old  slndlhacdc, 
"  for  when  y'  get  up  one  of  these  ri\-ers  a  little  wavs, 
\"  "II  lind  masked  hatteries.  an  sliarp-shooters,  aiT 
that.  too.  at  p'ints  where  y'  can't  go  'round,  go 
ahead,   or  git   lKHd\. 

••  An'  nusipiitoes  an"  torpedoes,  to  kill  an'  Intey', 
an'  hlow'  y"  iiigher'u  the  mainmast,  aiT  annoy  y' 
genei-ally."  said  another,  giving  a  hiteh  to  his 
trousers    h)r  em[iliasis. 

The  men  laughed  to  hear  tor})edoes  idassified  with 
mos(piitoes.  hut  I  !ia\'e  n.o  douht  thev  thouglit  the 
latter  as  great  an  evil  asthetirst.  h»r  it  was  one  that 
Avas  ever  present  a\  ith  us  w  hen  up  the  river,  wliere, 
as  Phil  said,  these  pests  presented  their  hills  after 
husiness  hours. 

'•  Well,  our  little  lieutenant  will  go  where  any 
one  will  follow  :   he  "s    just  adiankering  f'r  trouhle, 


ox  Tin:  ••  sp/TFiR]:."  265 

only  tliem  "s  arc  aliovc  liiin  arc  lioldiu"  him  in,"  said 
tlu'  old  sailtir. 

It  proved  true  that  our  liriUenaut  comniaiidiug' 
oidv  lai'lct'd  permission  to  enter  u[)on  more  liazard- 
ous  undertakings,  (^uite  a  number  of  tlie  men 
were  sick  Avitli  malarial  fever,  and  among  these  the 
ca})tain"s  clerk  :  so  I  was  requested  to  take  his  place 
for  ii,tini9. 

Thougli  it  was  a  place  that  I  had  no  liking  for, 
I  did  m}-  duty  while  I  occupied  it,  and  received 
the  hearty  commendation  of  the  lieutenant  for 
the  rapidity,  neatness,  and  correctness  of  ni}^ 
writing.  Although  I  did  not,  I  trust,  try  to  pa- 
rade my  accomplislnnents,  yet  I  was  not  averse  to 
showing  that  I  was  well  educated,  and  was  not  only 
(juick  in  figures,  hut  well  up  in  higher  mathematics. 

1  think  it  ^^'as  partly  owing  to  this  fact  that 
when,  shortly  after,  one  of  the  master's  mates  was, 
as  Knowles  termed  it,  "  dry-docked,"  hy  being  sent 
to  the  hospital  at  Brooklyn,  1  was  put  to  the  duty 
of  acting  master's  mate. 

After  being  in  this  position  for  several  months 
an  order  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  was  re- 
ceived, with  my  appointment  as  ensign.  I  was 
not  displeased  that  I  was  to  do  duty  in  that 
office  on  board  the  "  Spitfire."  No  order  came  for 
Phil's  promotion,  but  I  am  sure  he  deserved  it 
more  than  I  did.  He  generously  declared  that 
he  would  rather  I  should  get  the  position  than  have 
it  himself,  and  seemed  to  rejoice  at  my  good  fortune 


■2^U] 


FATIIi:i;    Af.'AIXSI'    SOX. 


ijiorc  tliiin  if  it  IkkI  cDino  to  liiiii.  'J'liis  did  not 
siii'prisc  inc.  Ini'  il  was  in  lvft'|iiii^-  with  tlic  iiiiiiil\' 
and  niiscHisli  iiatnic  ni'  (me  wImi  had  Hot  (»iu_'  pai'- 
t  i(d('  (if  ell  \  \'  ill  his  SDiil. 

It  was  ill  l-'clii-iiar\ .  "'i->.  whih'  I  was  on  dnty  as 
ofliccr  of  tiic  divk  that  I  lirst  h-anicd  tliat  Mr. 
\'>r\\.  iidW  liiMitciiaiit  I'liittMl  States  na\\\  was 
(111  (hlt\  ill  these  waters.  He  caiiie  on  1  »oa  rd  to 
\isit  our  lieutenant,  witli  wlioni  lie  was  a((|nainte(l. 
lieforc  he  left  the  steamer  I  was  otf  duty,  and  paid 
my  i-es]iects  to  him. 

lie  in(|uii'e(l  for  IMiil.  and  he  was  st'iit  for.  and, 
as  he  had  alwa\s  heeii  a  i^'reat  ta\(irite  with  Mr. 
l)(dl.  I  was  not  sui'jiriscd  at  the  hearty  ^reet in;.;'  he 
recei\-ed. 

'•  1  am  L;"lad,  \dUiiL;'  L;'eutlemen,  to  hear  a  L4'ood  rc- 
]iort  of  \'oii  from  \dnr  eommaiidiiiL;' oflieei'.  and  that 

one  of  \"oU   has   reeei\-ed   [)l'omotion. 

'•  \ Cs.""  1  rejilied.  ••mine  came  at  last,  liut  Phil 
has  iTt  L;'ot  his  \'et.  and  vou  know  he  is  a  better 
sailor  than  I  am:  my  [>romotion  was  sim[)ly  l;'oo(1 
lu.d^." 

••  Theit'  is  no  bnd-:  or  accidents,  (.n'erytliing  is 
or(li'rc(l  or  directe(l  hxsome  power  liiu'lier  than  our- 
selves," said  Lieutenant  Hell.  ••  Xo  one  wlio  has 
()l)serve(l  the  course  of  this  t(,'rril)le  war  can  doubt 
that.  If  this  war  had  been  closed  a  year  a^o  we 
should  have  left  the  canse  of  all  this  bitterness  be- 
tween brothel's  untoU(die(l.  and  should  have  it  all 
to  h'jht  over  a<i'ain   some  other   time.      1   have  been 


UN    THE    ■■  SPIT  FIR  F.y  2(57 

tauglit.  too,  ill  my  own  life  tliat  llieri'  is  a  diivct- 
iiio-  powci-  lii^-lKT  than  man.  1  was  raised  at  tlic 
Soutli  and  taii^'ht  to  coiisidcr  woi'k  as  uin\'ortli\-  of 
a- g'uiitleman.  1  got  married,  cjuarreled  or  disagreed 
with  my  father,  and  without  profession  or  trade 
tried  td  snp[)ort  myself  and  family.  I  was  over- 
taken l)y  wliat  we  eall  misfortune.  I  was  compelled 
to  go  to  sea  as  a  eonimon  sailor.  Under  the  name 
I  now  go  hy  I  worked  my  way  up.  My  experience 
has  proved  a  hlessing  to  me.  and  A\'hile  there  is 
much  that  is  very  l)itter  and  hard  to  l)ear  as  a  con- 
seipience,  I  have  no  doul)t  that  it  has  heen  so  or- 
dert^d,  and  that  I  sliall  tind  it  is  for  tlie  liighest 
good.  It  has  developed  self-reliance  and  manhood 
in  me.  and  I  thaidc  (xod  every  day  that  I  know  how 
a  man  he  fore  tlie  mast  feels.  But  for  the  Provi- 
dential direction  of  my  life,  I  should  he  fighting- 
against  my  country  like  some  of  my  kindred  and 
friends." 

A  look  passed  hetween  Phil  and  myself  when 
Lieutenant  Bell  referred  to  his  heing  of  Southern 
hirth,  and  I  knew  that  Pliil  would  like  to  have  me 
tell  him  of  my  father.  It  had  always  been  hard 
for  me  to  talk  of  father  with  those  who  did  not 
know  him  and  the  circumstances  under  which  he 
had  left  home ;  they  might  misunderstand  him, 
and  besides  it  could  do  no  good. 

One  of  the  duties  of  our  ship  was  to  watch  the 
mouth  of  the  river  that  communicated  with  the 
interior  of    the  country,  to  intercept  and  capture 


2t_;8 


JWriniR    AGAINST    SOX. 


vessels  eoiniiin'  lioiii  tlie  ciicinv  Avitli  cottcui  iind 
other  carn'oes,  in  ;iii  atleinpt  to  run  tlie  Mockade. 
So  at  tiiiu's  wliilt'  on  this  (hitv  \w  pciu'trated  tliese 
]'i\'('rs  for  iniU's.  Imt  \yv  were  j^'eneralK'  received  hy 
thc  ]i('o])h'  w'illi  iiion.'  fiii'ru'v  tliaii  coui'tesy. 

In  April,  tak'iiiL;-  advaiitaLj'e  of  the  hi^'h  tides  pre- 
vailiiiL;'.  we  steamed  up  one  of  these  l•i^■ers  for  se\- 
eral  miles  in  an  altem}it  to  capture  some  schooners 
said  to  he  loaded  with  citttoii.  waitiuL;"  h)r  a  favoi- 
al)le  chance  to  L;'et  out.  \\"e  had  n'one  up  the  river 
some  ten  miles  \\-ithout  hdliuL;'  in  with  these  crafts, 
\\lien  a  hatterv  on  ihe  i'i\'er  hluff  opened  iii-e  onus. 
While  sleannn^'  ahead  to  L;t't  out  of  )-anL;-e  we  he- 
L;an  to  make  reply  witli  shell.  Phil  was  in  eharn'e 
of  tlie  pixdt  L;'un  ahaft,  and  was  makiiiL;'  some  line 
shots.  In  the  undst  of  this  excit in^;' lire  an  i^'uited 
sliell  eartridye  h'll  out  of  the  ^un  to  the  de<dc  and 
I'olled  spntterinn'  and  hissinn'  to  starhoai'd,  when 
Pliil  st'ized  a  hucket  of  water  and  threw  it  upon 
the  dangerous  intruder,  thus  }ireveutinL;- a  disastrous 
explosion  on  our  deck.  ()u)'  commander,  who  saw 
the  act,  afterwards  com}iliniented  I'hil  on  his  cool- 
ness, when  Phil  simj^jl}'  remarked  : 

'■'•'riie  charge  nnist  liave  heen  damp,  captain,  or 
it  woidd   have  exploded." 

The  lieutenant,  however,  made  mention  of  this 
heroit-  conduct  in  his  report,  and  after  a  Avhile.  on 
his  iveommendatiou,  Phil  A\'as  appointed  l)y  the 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  a  master's  mate  on  the 
"•Spitfire"  as  a   reward  for  gallant   conduct. 


ox    Tin-:    -SPITFIRE.'"  2tj!) 

So  Pliil  had  tlie  ^ood  t'ortuni'  to  win  liis  promo- 
tion, and  it  was  tlic  general  feeling  on  board  that 
no  one  ever  more  riehly  ch'served  it. 

That  nig'ht,  not  .seeing  anything  of  the  vessels  we 
were  looking  for,  after  some  sharp  exchanges  of  shell 
and  shot,  and  after  ^^'e  had  succeeded  in  making  the 
position  of  the  enemy  untenable,  we  retired,  fearing 
the  eneni}-  would  Ijarricade  the  river  below  us. 

Early  tlie  next  morning  we  started  up  the  river 
once  more,  Avhen  we  found  that  the  enemy  had  taken 
a  position  for  their  ])attery  on  a  high  bluff,  where 
we  could  not  give  our  guns  sufficient  elevation  to 
shell  them  out. 

Seeing  this,  we  backed  down  stream,  at  a  bend  in 
the  river,  out  of  sight.  Here  I  was  ordered  by  the 
lieutenant  to  take  a  l)oat  with  a  party  of  men  and 
make  a  recoruiaissance  on  shore,  for  the  purpose  of 
ascertaining  the  strength  of  the  enemy. 

We  landed  in  a  swampy  thicket,  where,  leaving 
our  boat  in  charge  of  one  man,  we  moved  towards 
the  enemy.  We  had  not  got  out  of  the  thicket 
when  we  came  upon  four  of  the  rebel  boats,  and 
though  we  only  surmised  the  purpose  of  their  being 
there  (because  of  the  shovels  and  picks  we  found 
on  board  of  them),  we  pushed  them  into  the  stream. 
After  this  we  advanced  along  the  river  bank  until 
we  came  near  to  the  bluff  where  the  enemy  had 
established  their  battery. 

Here,  after  cautioning  ni}^  men  to  make  as  little 
noise  as  possible,  we  made  a  wide  circuit  around 


FA7J/I:/!     A'.A/XST    SaX. 


tlic  l)liit'l'  and  caiiK.'  up  in  llif  I'l-ar,  for  tin*  [nirpdsc 
(if  N|iyinL;-   out    tlir   sitnatiun. 

W  V  lialtcd  in  a  thick  undcr^rowlli  nt'black  jacl<. 
|)inr.  and  tan'j'li'd  \  ini'>.  Ilcrc.  Icaxini^'  llif  iiim.  I 
(■i-('|it  tdi'wai'di  1(1  wlici'c  I  was  aMc  In  Idol-;  (inl  (in  a 
(dcaivd  s]Mil  (111  llic  liniw  (if  tlif  liluff.  wlicl'c  the 
liattcr\'  was  stal  i(inc(|.  lint  jusl  as  1  was  alidnl  tn 
l(i(il<  (lilt  1  licard  a  sdimd  that  made  my  licaU  inniji. 
It  was  the  nicasiii'cd  ti'ani[i  df  a  Imdy  dt  iiiaKdiinL;' 
men  cdniin^-  tdW  ards  mc  I  llattciitMl  niyscll  tdtlic 
L^Tdnnd  and  w'ailc(l.  Tlicy  were  nidxiiiL;'  ahuiL;'  a 
path  whicli  fan  sd  ncaf  td  \\dicft'  I  was  lyinL;' 
that  it  was  astdiiishiiiL;-  they  did  iidt  sec  inc  :  lint 
llic\  passed  (Ui.  and  I  had  the  satisfactidii  df  licaf- 
iiiL;'  the  Sdiiiid  df  tln'if  fddtstcjis  ^-fdW  less  and  less 
distinct,  and  hnalh'  die  away  in  the  distance. 

I  iid'eifc(l  fi'dni  the  ft'W"  w'dfds  I  had  heai'd  them 
nttef  that  tliey  \\"ei'e  (ill  theif  way  t( i  sink  the  very 
scdws  we  had  set  adrift  in  the  river  for  the  pnrpdse 
(if  harricadiiiL;'  it.  WIkmi  I  Iddked  ont  in  the  rear  (if 
the  eiienu's  pdsitidii  i  saw  sdiiie  twenty  men  with 
their  mnskets  sta(d-;ed  Idnii^-iiiL;'  arciund  the  guns, 
laughing  and  making  nncomplimeiitary  I'eiiiarks 
al)(»ut  the  Yankee   gnnneiy  . 

r)etwe(,'n  the  liattery,  \\hi(di  cdusisted  of  three 
hrass  lield-pieces  and  a  light  ship"s-gun,  and  the 
woods    were   stacked    their   muskets. 

1  crept  hack  to  m\-  juirty,  and  orih'red  them  for- 
ward. The  whole  [iart\'  of  twenty-live  men  was 
jsooii   in   [idsition.     Then,  with  a  rush,  we  were  on 


ON    THE    ••  SPITFIRE^  271 

our  foes,  between  tliem  and  their  staeked  muskets, 
calling  upon  them  to  surrender. 

Those  that  attempted  to  run  we  shot  down,  and 
the  others  surrendered.  After  rolling  tlie  light 
guns  down  the  hluff  and  spiking  the  larger  ship- 
gun  we  made  our  way  haek  to  where  \\e  had  left 
ourlioat;  it  was  gone.  From  the  sound  of  nuis- 
ketry  down  stream  that  broke  out  at  just  that  timt', 
we  concluded  that  the  steamer  was  having  a  dis- 
pute with  those  who  were  attempting  to  barricade 
the  river. 

We  were  in  a  quandary  what  to  do,  when 
Ivnowles's  sharp  eyes  saw  one  of  the  scows  of  the 
enemy  Ave  had  set  adrift,  caught  in  the  projecting 
lind)  of  a  tree.  It  was  but  tlie  work  of  an  instant 
to  reach  it  and  l)ring  it  to  the  shore,  put  our  })ris- 
oners  on  board,  and,  using  the  shovels  for  paddles 
(for  there  w^ei'e  no  others),  cross  to  tlie  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  and  go  wdtli  the  current  down 
to  our  steamer,  in  hope  thus  to  reach  her  on  the 
side  from  the  enemy. 

Before  we  reached  her,  however,  I  discovered 
that  they  were  on  both  sides  of  the  stream,  for 
when  lower  down  there  came  a  crackling  of  muskets, 
and  several  of  our  men  and  prisoners  w^ere  wounded. 
I  do  not  know  hoAv  it  would  liave  fared  with  us  if 
one  of  our  prisoners  had  not  exclaimed,  ''•  You  are 
firing  on  your  friends  !  " 

They  ceased  firing,  and  while  they  were  hesitat- 
ino-  and  in  doubt  we  shot  out  of  range  of  their  fire. 


FAl'lIi:il    AdAINS'J'    SiL\. 


Ill  a  few  iiKHiH'iits  I  Avas  safely  on  Imanl  tlie 
"  Sjiit  lire  ""  witli    my   iirisoiicrs. 

It  was  not  Idii^'  Ijcforc  we  had  clcaiuMl  out  tlie 
rinciiicii    and    were   left    luidisturhfil. 

Till'  lieu  tenant  cDniniaiidiiiL;'  cnnii)!!  merited  me  on 
the  maiiiuT  1  liail  |ieriormed  my  part  in  this   affair. 


ATTACK    ON    SECESSIONVILLE. 


CHAPTER    XXIIL 

ATTACK    OX    SECESSIOXVILLE. 

When  I  reported  to  Lieutenant  Dashway,  lie  at 
once  resolved  to  make  an  attack  on  quite  an  impor- 
tant town  on  the  river,  some  thirty  miles  above. 
His  plan  was  to  sweep  the  river,  destroy  salt-works, 
vessels,  and  any  munitions  of  war  tliat  might  Ijc 
found.  The  success  of  this  plan  depended  upon 
surprising  tlie  enemy  by  a  quick  dash,  and  then 
fighting  our  way  out  again. 

I  remendjer,  even  now  while  I  write,  the  look  of 
brave  confidence  on  our  youthful  commander's  face, 
and  the  determined  resolution  expressed  in  his  firm- 
set  jaw  and  in  his  steel-blue  eyes,  as  he  made  this 
decision. 

As  we  passed  the  bluff  down  which  we  had 
rolled  the  guns  and  thrown  the  muskets  we  had 
broken,  he  said : 

"We  '11  get  those  guns  on  board  when  we 
return." 

We  had  steamed  up  stream  about  fifteen  miles 
without  encountering  the  enemy,  when  we  saw 
two  schooners  coming  down  on  the  tide.  One  of 
them,  that  was  loaded  with  turpentine  and  cotton, 
was  set  on  fire  by  her  crew  to  prevent  her  falling 


274  FATIIIIR    MrATyST    SON. 

into  Diif  liaiids,  ;iii(l  tlic  (itlicr  -was  run  ashore  in 
tln'  nind. 

Wr  I'aii  alonLj'siilf  of  the  olic  wliicli  liad  been 
tircil.  lint  liiidiiii;'  that  it  was  inipossililc  to  sa\'t' 
lici-  we  cont  iiiuc(l  (111  our  course.  'Idie  ]iili  it  assni-iMJ 
onr  conniiandci' t  liat  it  was  inijioHant  tliat  liesiionld 
lia\c  da\liL;lit  as  wtdl  as  liiL;li  tide  to  pilot  the 
steaiiM'i'  lia(d<  throU!_;h  tin'  erooked  ri\ cr-idiaiuud. 
^^'^■  stojiped  just  lonL;  eliouyh  to  desll'o\-  Some  salt- 
works on  the  haid^s  of  the  riN'er,  and  then  dashed 
forward  toward  the  town  at  a  speed  as  L;r»':it  as 
the  crooked  and  narrowing'  rixci'   w'onld   permit. 

(  )n  our  ari'ixal  at  the  little  town  we  found  the 
people  totally  unprej)are(l  for  our  i-ecejition.  AVe 
(pU(d<h-  lan<le(|  in  oui'  hoats.  Imt  not  ([uickly  enou^'h 
to  [ii'eN'ent  the  escape  ol  scNci'al  oflicers  ])\  the  dirt 
road,  to  a  still  lai'^er  town  some  twenty  miles  from 
there. 

AVe  threw  out  pickets  to  jirevent  a  surprise;  Ave 
then  took  [)ossession  of  the  court-house  and  other 
pul)lic  huildings  (^foi-  it  was  the  cimnty  seat),  and 
st'ized  a  immher  of  small  arms,  and  a  larij'e  mail 
at  the  post-oflice,  Avhere  I  had  heen  sent  for  this  pur- 
pose. The  postmaster  had  modestly  secluded  him- 
self, hut  tlie  mistress,  either  hi'aver  than  her  hus- 
haiid,  or  having'  moi'e  confidence  in  Yankee  sailors 
than  he  had,  remained  l)ehin(k  I  first  seeured  the 
mail  and  sent  it  to  the  hoat,  and  then  confiseated 
the  ne^'i'o  servants  at  the  ot'Hce  and  sent  them  to 
the  steamei'.   While  I  was  performinL;'  this  duty  the 


ATTACK    OX    SECESSION  villi:.  27.) 

good  ^^•()man  of  tlic  iKtiise  ^vas  l)rav('ly  stonning  at 
iiu',  witli  all  the  epitliets  at  Iht  coniniaiiil.  I  al- 
l()\\e(l  none  of  the  men  iiiuler  nie  to  make  reply, 
and  personally  T  treated  her  as  eourteonsly  as  if 
she  ^\'ere  showering  upon  us  eom[)liments  instead 
oi  unsavory   ahuse. 

Whih"  I  was  at  the  post-oftiee,  few  men  were 
visil)le.  as  I  liave  intimated:  l)ut  I  had  one  very 
pleasant  visitor,  Avliom  I  shall  not  easily  forget. 
It  A\as  a  heantiful  young  lady  with  the  l)rig]itest 
eyes  I  ever  saw,  who,  ]iot  knowing  that  the  otfice 
liad  changed  liands,  had  driven  to  the  door,  seated 
gracefully  on  a  l)ony. 

As  slie  drove  u[)  I  stepped  to  the  sidewalk  and 
lifted  my  hat.  With  her  beautiful  blue  eyes  she 
gave  an  inquiring  flash  at  me,  from  the  gold  braid 
on  my  liat  to  the  boots  on  my  feet.  I  confess  that 
glance  made  me  feel  very  insignificant.  She  had 
not  understood  who  or  what  I  was  until  she  alighted 
and  stood  at  the  door,  when  tlie  shower  of  abuse 
from  the  wife  of  the  postmaster  enliglitened  her. 
Then  with  one  more  flash  from  her  eyes,  she  turned 
as  if  to  remount  her  horse ;  but  that  animal,  as 
if  it  had  become  infected  with  the  sentiments  of  the 
town,  liad  walked  away  from  Yankee  contagion. 

"  Knowles,"  I  said,  for  he  was  one  of  my  party, 
"  bring  that  horse  here  for  the  young  lady." 

After  some  difficulty  the  pony  was  secured  and 
Ijrought  to  the  doorway,  where  the  young  lady  ac- 
cepted my  assistance  in  mounting. 


•2  7  C>  I'\  177/  /:.'  /.'     A<;.[/  XS  T    S  0  X. 

Wviow  start  iiiL;'  Iht  Ikh'sc  into  a  cairicr.  slir  tunu'd, 
l)o\\-c(l,  and  L;a\('  iiic  a  siiiilc  tliat  lor  the  instant 
conijilctcly  tnrnc(I  ni\-  Iicad  :  then  slic  clattcrrd 
down  t  lie  st  I'cct.  All  lliis  toolv  place  ill  less  time 
than    it    lias  taken    nie    to  tell    it. 

Tlie  recall  liaxiiiL;'  lieeii  soiiiided  sliortU'  al'tei'. 
I  said  n'ood-daN'  to  llic  scolding'  niisti'ess  and 
started  for  t1ie  l)oal.  Iv'iiowdes  and  the  rest  of 
my  crew  weiv  just  ahead  of  nie,  leading'  the  waw 
lie  turned  Iiaid^  lo  ni'L;e  me  to  hiii'i'\',  when  in  an 
inslaiil  the  party  had  Ljoiie  IVcnii  oiii- \iew.  At  the 
same  time  \\c  caught  siL;ht  of  some  of  the  towns- 
[)eople  sknlkiiiL;'  and  lyin^-  in  wait,  and  for  fear 
tliat  they  nii^'ht  open  lire  from  the  houses  I  tnrne(l 
into  another  street. 

This  caused  some  dcday.  and  when  I  arl■i^'e(l 
at  the  landinL;-  I  was  chagrined,  not  only  at 
lindin^'  that  my  hoat  -was  ^'oiie.  Imt  that  some 
men  had  ^ot  two  ^'nns  in  ])osition  on  the  left  haidv 
of  the  river  and  were  ahoiit  to  open  liiv  on  the 
steamer. 

Thei'e  was  no  time  for  ipU'stioii  or  d(da\'.  I 
hastily  n'lanced  ah)nL;'  the  shoi'e  to  see  if  thert'  A\-as 
some  kind  of  a  hoat  in  which  T  eonld  Lj-et  hack  to 
the  steamer,  hut  there  was  none  in  siLjht.  I  then 
dodg'ed  around  some  old  wai'ehoitsi's,  and  from 
thence  down  to  tlie  i'i\'er-side,  -where  thi(d-:.h)W  foli- 
ae'e  eoneeah'd  me.  Knowles  liad  !4'one  in  some 
other  direction,  where  I  did  not  eoiicern  myself, 
]ia\'ine-  enonnh   trouhle  of  my  own,  and   I  A\'as  left 


ATTACK    ON    SECKSSIoyVILLE.  2m 

to  mv  unpleasant  reflections,  and  to  work  out  my 
own  salvation  as  best  I  could. 

I  was  in  a  bad  tix,  so  much  was  sure.  Here  I 
was  in  an  enemy's  country,  and  that  too  after  tak- 
ing a  prominent  part  in  depredations  of  a  character 
hkely  to  wound  the  pride  and  aggravate  the  temper 
of  niuch  more  humlile  and  better-natured  peo})le 
than   I  ever  gave  these  the  credit  of  l)eing. 

1  sat  down  in  the  thicket  to  think  out  a  plan 
of  escape  to  the  I'nion  lines.  I  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  I  had  l»etter  keep  as  near  the  river  as 
possible,  as  in  case  of  pursuit  I  could  s^^■im  to  tlie 
opposite  bank,  and  also  by  this  route  I  possibly 
might  find  a  skiff  or  some  other  kind  of  boat  to 
get  do^^■n  the  river  in.  This  disposition  to  keep 
near  water  is  almost  an  instinct  with  sailors.  I 
once  asked  an  old  sailor  what  he  Avould  do  if  he 
was  ever  compelled  to  beg,  and  he  replied  that 
if  he  ever  got  Avrecked  like  that  on  shore,  the  first 
thing  he  \^'ould  beg  was  a  boat  to  get  away  from 
hind  in.  Though,  as  the  reader  knows,  I  bad  had 
some  experience  on  land,  I  was  thoroughl}-  imbued 
with  this  feeling  so  common  to  sailors,  and  felt 
safer  for  being  near  the  water. 

I  was  dressed  in  uniform ;  had  on  my  Ijelt,  with 
sword  and  revolver,  which  an  officer  of  my  rank 
wore  when  on  duty.  Thinking  that  the  gilt  but- 
tons and  gold  braid  of  \\\j  coat  and  hat  might 
betray  me  if  seen  even  at  a  distance,  I  turned  my 
coat  wrong  side  out  and  thrust  my  cap  into  one 


27  s 


FAl'llim    ACMNST    SUX. 


of  its  pockets,  and  |ilai'('(]  on  my  head  a  'j;v[iy  sill<: 
liaii(lkfrcliicl'  w  oiiiid  t  iii-l)aii-lik'('.  I  tliiMi  ix'jilacrd 
iii\'  l»(dt  and  stalled  down  the  ri\'er.  keeping'  to  the 
wooded  t'riiiLi'e  lliat  skirted  iis  slioi'es. 

This  was  late  in  tlie  afternoon,  and  ni^iit  soon 
eanie  on.  I  ikKt  its  eoiicealinL;'  \'eil  I  felt  that 
!ii\'  ehanees  h>r  escape  wci'e  iiici'easi'd  :  hut  I  had 
not  L;'one  more  than  a  mile  when  1  was  sto})[ie(l  hy 
a.  ereek  which  I  must  ei'oss  or  l^'o  arituiuk  The 
latter  was  not  to  ])c  thoU'^'ht  of:  so.  in  ho]»e  eliat 
h\  da\liL;-ht  1  mi^ht  lind  a  hoat  in  this  litth'  sti'eani 
(it  was  so  near  to  the  town).  I  eoiudnded  t(j  wail 
and  make  a  sear(di  lor  this  piir[iose. 

I  found  a  sheltered  nook.  L;(it  some  dry  leaves 
together  for  m\"  hed,  and  muKcdiinL;'  some  slii[)"s 
hread  whiidi  I  lanl  in  my  pocket  (to  say  nothiuL;'  of 
chewing-  the  liittercud  of  rellectioii  ),  I  fell  asleep 
as  sound  as  if  in  m\'  hammo(d-;  on  hoai'd  ship.  I 
was  awakene(k  it  seemed  to  me  oidy  a  few  moments 
later.  h\-  the  mofuino-  sun  shining'  in  my  hice.  I 
was  a  little  stiff  and  lame  in  m\'  le^s  :  for  a  sailor 
unaecustometl  to  walking' on  anythiuL;' hut  ]ilanl<  is 
soon  wearied  in  his  lei^'s  while  oii  lamk 

The  sk\'  was  (deai;  and  m\"  mind  was  as  (d(_'ar  as 
the  sky;  I  felt  :M]ual  to  an\tliinL;'.  The  air  was 
halmv,  Avith  just  enoUL;h  of  the  cool  erispness  ot 
spriuL;-  in  it  to  make  exercise  imitiny.  I  at  onee 
he^'an  to  scan  tlie  shoi-es  of  tlie  ereek  for  a  hoat  to 
cross  in.  and  to  pursue  mv  tra\"(ds  umU'i"  morv'  I'asy 
eiretimstanees.      1  was  following  a  ri\er  path  when 


.  (  T7\i  CK    ON    SEC/-: SSh  )X  1 7  A  /.  /•;.  l^T ! » 

I  lieard  the  tramp  (if  horses,  and  in  my  modest 
desire  not  to  attraet  attention,  I  ste[)ped  from  the 
patli  to  the  coneealing-  foliage.  Two  liorsemen 
walked  their  horses  [last  me.  I  heard  the  Avord 
''  YaidxS,**  and  tlien  one  of  tlieni  said,  *•'  Ulieir 
steamer  is  slnit  in  so  they  can't  get  away." 

I  inferred  from  tliis  that  the  '' Spitlire  "  had  been 
detained  in  tlie  river  over  niglit  ])y  barrieades  or 
other  obstrnctions.  I  did  not  trouble  myself  al)out 
that,  for  I  had  learned  that  one  can  best  attend  to 
duty  who  attends  to  that  which  is  liefore  him,  and 
who  does  not  fret  over  things  that  are  not  present 
to  his  senses. 

I  was  now  more  cautious,  for  I  knew  I  must  1)6 
near  houses,  or  a  liouse  at  least,  and  I  also  knew 
that  if  I  fell  in  with  any  one  but  a  field  negro  I 
was  likely  to  find  an  enemy. 

I  went  nearer  to  the  water,  and  began  to  scan 
every  nook  along  the  shore  near  me,  to  find  a  boat. 
I  was  not  long  in  finding  a  small  skiff  tied  to  a 
tree ;  there  were  no  oars  in  her,  and  believing  them 
to  be  hidden  near  the  boat  I  began  to  look  for 
them.  I  was  just  about  to  give  up  the  search 
when  I  was  confronted  by  an  old  and  very  l)lack 
negro,  with  a  pair  of  oars  on  his  shoulder  and  a 
basket  in  his  hand.  I  had  found  the  oars,  but 
with  them  an  unpleasant  incumbrance  that  was 
likely  to  upset  my  plans. 

We  both  lialted  in  surprise,  in  a  sort  of  ''•  Who  'd 
'a"  thonght  of  seeing  you/'"  manner.      I,  however, 


2S()  ]\['riiEi:   A<:\ixsT  soy. 

]vci)\\'vvd  my  ^^"ils  and  sclt'-|ii)ssrssi(>ii  lii-st  aii<l  said, 
"I  want  to  Ixiii'ow  yoiir  Ixiut  and  oars  aAvhile, 
boy."" 

]  liad  Icanit'd  tliat  assnraiicc  and  clir-ek  go  a 
good  WAV  \y\{]\  oi-dinai-\  men.  and  lliat  tlio  blacks 
of  tlic   Sonlli    were    no   cxcciition    to   lliis   rnlc 

'•('an't  Icn"  dis  boat,  sar,"'  said  tbc  bjark  man; 
"got    to   go   lis]i"n'.'" 

'"No  one  will  laiow  anything  abont  it,""  I  said, 
''so  let  me  take  tlu'  oai's."" 

I'.ut  tbongli  lie  bcsitatt'd  lie  a|i[ian'iul\'  did  not 
tall  in  with  my  mode  of  looking  at  things.  Seeing 
this,  1  (dianged  my  tactics  liy  saying,  ••  Wdiat  ha\'u 
voii  got  in  I  hat  basket  ?  "' 

''(lot  a  jtome,  sai'.  lo"  m"  dinner." 

'•  Here,""  I  said.  •'  1  will  gi\c  yon  this  silver  half- 
(h)llar  for  voni'  diinier."" 

I  oh'ered  this,  parlly  because  I  wanted  the  dinnei', 
and  partlv  to  get  him  tti  commit  himstdf  so  he 
must  <h)  more.  Seeing  liim  hesitate.  1  said,  '•  Kee[) 
till'  basket,  I  want  only  tlie  food."' 

He  I'eaidied  out  his  hand  for  the  silver,  and  then 
handed  me  the  food.  It  Avas  fried  chi(d\en,  corn 
cake,  and  sweet  potatoes.  I  ate  a  })ortion  and  }iut 
aside  the  rest  for  future  use,  and  between  Itites 
said  to  tlie  ohi  darkey: 

^  Sam,  I  'm  a  Yankee  ;  when  we  get  these  rebs 
licked,  Uncle  Abe  's  going  to  give  yon  all  yonr 
freedom.  Now,  if  you  '11  just  row  me  down  to  our 
steamer  to-niodit  I  '11  u'ive  von  a  hundred  dollars  in 


ATTACK    ON    SECESSIOXVILLE.  281 

greenbacks  ;  besides  you'll  get  your  freedom  with- 
out waiting  for  it." 

''  I  knows  y'  was  a  Yank  —  one  o'  them  dat 
was  up  to  de  co't-house  dar,  an*  de  pos'-offis ; 
I  see  ye  dar,  sar,  an'  I  knows  30'  fust  t"ing,  l)ut  T 
reckon  I  caun't  go,  sar;  I 's  got  a  wife  an'  chil'n, 
sar,  an"  a  right  good  ma's'r." 

"  Well,  then,"  I  said,  ''  set  me  across  here  and 
then  go  on  with  your  fishing,  and  I  '11  give  you  this 
greenback." 

The  old  man's  eyes  glistened,  and  after  looking 
cautiously  in  every  direction,  he  consented  to  row 
me  across  the  creek. 

After  he  had  landed  me  on  the  shore  I  handed 
him  the  gTeenl)ack  and  then  said,  "  Is  n't  there 
a  Johnstone  family  living  here,  or  near  some- 
where ?  " 

"  No,  sar,  but  ole  Mass'r  Rufus  Johnstone  libs 
'bout  twenty  mile'  from  yere  on  de  dirt  road, 
sar." 

I  reflected,  '•'•  So  I  am  among  luy  father's  people 
as  well  as  among  enemies." 

"  Where  is  the  young  ^Master  Johnstone  ?  " 

"  He  's  to  de  war  in  Richmond,  I  reckon,  sar." 
And  the  old  man  peered  curiously  into  my  face,  as 
if  he  would  understand  why  I  asked  such  ques- 
tions. 

"  Where  's  his  boy  Andrew  now  ?  " 

"Golly,  sar,  I  reckon  he  to  d'  war  wid  Ma's'r 
Rufus,    sar ;    he 's   pow'ful    fon'    ob   him ;    mighty 


•2S'2  FATffirn   A(;.\ixst  soy. 

|)i'(tii(|  Itov,  sar.""  .Vnd  tlie  old  ivmii  ^ave  me 
audtlicr  (|Uestioiiiiin'  Iddk.  as  it  lie  would  like  to 
know  liow  I  knewaiiytliing'df  the  "  (|Ualily  people  "' 
of  that  loeality. 

He  told  me  that  in  less  tliaii  three  miles  T  -would 
eome  upon  anothci'  crt'el-;.  I  ti'ied  to  L;'et  liim  to 
promise  that  hi'  would  l^o  (h)\\n  to  thai  ereek 
and  set  me  aeross  :  oi-,  lictter  still.  Ind})  me  down 
the  ri\rr  several  mile^.  Ili'linally  }>romised  me  he 
would  if  he  eould  An  so  without  (kinger  of  heini;- 
found   out. 

I  did  not  think  lie  \\-ould  betray  me.  uor  did  1 
ha\'e  nnudi  eoiihdeiiee  in  evei'  seeini;-  him  a^ain. 
Self-interest  ^\■ould.  I  argued,  keep  him  from 
l)etra\ini;-  me.  toi'  he  was  likely  to  he  puiushe(l 
if  it  was  known  that  he  had  heen  holdiiiL;'  eoii- 
versation  a\  ith,  and  takiny  money  from,  a  Yankee. 
I  afterwards  leai'Uetl  that  the  friendliness  shown 
to  tlistressed  I'nion  soldiers  so  uniforndy  during- 
the  war,  was  largely  })ronipted  hy  that  feeling  the 
poor  ever  have  for  those  who  are  more  tmtortunate 
than  themselves. 

I  tra\'eled  along  the  river-side  witliout  incident 
of  note  until  I  t-ame  to  the  ereek  whieh  the  old 
negro  had  mentioned. 

On  arriving  tliere  I  seated  myself  in  tlie  sun- 
shine near  the  ereek.  I>aek  of  me  ran  a  eart-})ath 
or  n)ad  but  little  used.  T  had  not  been  there  long 
wdren  the  sound  of  voices  arrested  my  attention. 
T  looked  throim-li  the  mass  of  foliage  and  saw  two 


ATTACK    ON    SECESSfOXVfLLE.  2S5] 

men  leisiiivly  walking'  along  the  path.  ( )ne  was 
elderly,  the  other  young,  tall,  and  good-looking, 
but  with  a  sinister  ex[)ression  on  his  face  that  gave 
nie  an  instinctive  dislike,  similar  to  the  repulsion 
that  pe()})le  feel  towards  a  serpent.  The  younger 
was  saying : 

''If  I  succeed  T  shall  expect  your  intluence,  or 
something  mijre,  with  your  ward."  At  this  the 
elder  man  said  })roudly  : 

^  I  won't  interfere,  understand  tliat,  John  Ferold ; 
an  old  man  whose  sympathies  are  blunted  has  no 
right  to  interfere  in  a  young-  girl's  choice  of  a 
husband.*' 

I  had  noticed  that  near  the  river  was  a  liouse 
of  the  liberal  Southern  pattern  of  the  better 
people,  and  inferred  that  these  gentlemen  belonged 
there.  After  they  had  passed  I  went  up  the  Ijank 
of  the  river  to  get  a  better  outlook,  and  then,  hav- 
ing seen  but  the  one  house  Avitli  its  cluster  of 
negro  cabins,  I  turned  Ijack  and  went  down  the 
bluff  in  another  direction ;  here  I  ao-ain  beo-an 
to  scan  the  shores  for  some  kind  of  a  boat  with 
which  to  cross. 

T  had  about  given  up  the  thought  of  finding  one, 
and  had  seated  myself  among  the  foliage  but  a  little 
way  from  the  water,  and  had  begun  to  remove  my 
clothes  in  order  to  swim  the  stream.  I  had  taken 
off  my  coat  and  belt  and  was  glancing  around  for 
something  to  float  them  on,  when  T  heard  a  splash- 
ing in  tlie  water.     I  looked  out  through  the  bushes. 


i!S4  hwrui.ii   A'iMxsT  s(i\;. 

and  a  tiiiv.  iiannw  Imat  in  wliicli  was  seated  re 
\i»uiil;'  and  L;i-aeerul  \\<iinaii  drifted  into  view.  It 
was  almost  like  a  sliock  when  she  turned  her  head 
towai'ds  nie  and  I  saw  the  same  lieautiful  laee  I 
had    seen    at    the    iiost-ollice. 

She  was  hanL;in;^' oMT  the  side  of  the  little  craft, 
s[ilashiiin'  the  watei-  [ilayfully  with  her  hands.  I 
lien'an  to  ailmire  hei'  n.nconseious  and  L;raeeful  pose, 
as  with  her  slee\cs  I'oHimI  hacdc  she  eaUL;'ht  at  a. 
lloatiui;-  lily  k'af  or  paddled  the  water  -with  hei' 
hands.  I  thon^'ht  thai  I  had  never  seen  so  hean- 
tiful  a  siLj'ht.  A  strand  of  hei'  loii^-  braid  of  hair 
had  heeome  detaelie<l  and  almost  swept  the  water, 
while  a  few  tin\-  eurls  [ila\e(l  at  her  ears  and  on 
her  white  neek.  The  si^ht  hrou^'ht  a  sti'ange 
regret  that  I  was  a  stran^'er  and  an  enemy. 
Ashanie(l  of  mv  va^'i-ani.  traitorous  thoughts,  I 
turned   to  shut   them    from   my   mind. 

I  was  ahout  to  resume  my  outer  elothing  when 
thei'c  was  a  splash  and  a  little  seream.  I  turned 
and  saw  the  s^'irl  in  the  \\'ater,  where  she  had  been 
})reei[)itated  l>v  the  partial  U[isettin^'  of  her  boat. 
1  rushed  to  her  reseue.  for  how,  eveu  Avlien  in 
daULi'er  mvself,  could  I  hesitatt'  lo  respond  to  a  call 
of  humanity? 

A  few  strokes  brou^'ht  me  to  her  just  as  she  was 
eoming  U[)  from  tnidei'  water  a  secoud  time.  I 
had  soon  brought  hei'  to  the  shore,  wliere  she  la^' 
like  a  dead  [lersoii.  while  1  danced  around  like  a 
frantic   lunatic  ratlier  than   like   a   seiisil)le  young 


I    TOOK    HER    UP    AGAIN    AND    STRODE    RESOLUTELY    TO    THE    HOUSE. 


Al'TACK    OX    SErESSIOXVILLE.  285 

mail.  T  lillcd  my  cap  \\\{\\  water  and  (leluL;c(l  ]ier 
face,  Avlien  the  poor  girl  was  sutt'eriiig-  alread}'  from 
a  surfeit  of  that  element. 

Then  my  })resence  of  mind  returned  with  the 
thought  of  my  own  peril,  and  remendjering  the 
formula  for  restoring  the  drowning  I  applied  it, 
and  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  her  open 
her  eyes.  I  waited  no  longer,  1)ut  putting  on  ni}- 
eoat  right  side  out  I  adjusted  my  belt,  put  on  my 
cap,  and  taking  her  in  my  arms  hurried  u[)  the 
hank  to  the  house  I  had  seen.  As  1  M'as  rushing 
on,  witli  her  dripping  form  clasped  in  my  arms,  she 
regained  consciousness  and  gave  a  little  shriek  as 
if  her  lieart  was  in  the  cry.  Then  grasping  my 
neck  with  one  small,  heautiful  hand,  she  said 
imperiously,   '"  Put  me  down,  sir." 

I  obeyed,  for  I  was  [)i(|ued  and  cool  enough 
then.  "•  You  fell  into  the  river :  excuse  me  if  I 
could  n't  see  you  drown.  I  must  help  you  to  the 
house." 

As  if  to  emphasize  tliis  view  of  the  situation, 
she  once  more  fainted.  I  took  her  up  again  and 
strode  resolutely,  and  I  confess  somewhat  angrily, 
to  the   house. 

She  had  meanwhile  l)ecome  conscious,  and  with- 
out more  ado  allowed  me  to  carrv  her  up  on  the 
broad  veranda,  where  I  laid  her  down  on  a  couch 
or  seat,  and  Avas  confronted  by  the  elderly  gentle- 
man I  had  seen  earlier  in  the  day. 

''What  does  this  mean,  sir?"  he  sai<l,  haughtily 


28(3 


FA  THE  11    . 1  (1. 1  INS  T    SON. 


yliineiiiy  at  my  unil'oii;!.  "T  have  n't  tlu'  }ik'asiin' 
of  \(iiii'  ac(|iialiilaiic('. 

''The  uirl  lia<l  I'allfii  into  the  watei':  I  did  iTt 
tliiiilc  an  iiitrcHliictioii  was  iiecessai'v  to  sa\<'  her 
t'roiii  (h'owiiiiiL;',  sii'."'  1  said  in  tones  as  frigid  as  liis 
oANii.  '' I'.xrusc  nil',  sii',  h)!' sa\  iiiL;' she  lias  rcccixcd 
a  scNcit'  shoclv  and  nccils  iiiniic(liate  altcntioii."' 

'V\\v  ohl  ^cnt  leiiiaii,  wlio  liad  e\'identl\  l»cen 
almost  ]iaraly/.t'<l  Iiy  the  apiiaritioii  of  a  \  ankre 
oflicer  Ix'foif  him  ninhT  snch  ciriMimstanees,  no\\- 
eamt'  to  his  senses  and  lie^aii  L;ivinL;'  to  the  stupid 
S('r\ants  i'a[iid  and  intflli^t'iit  ordms. 

1  said  "  fiood-day""  and  was  al)ont  to  withdraw, 
when  tlie  ohl  ^'eiitlemaii  said  : 

''  A  moment,  sii':  to  whom  am  1  indehlcd '/ "' 

"•  Knsinii  .lolinstone.  of  the  I'nitcd  States  navy, 
sir,"*  I  replied  stiflly. 

The  old  Li'entlfman  extended  his  hand  and 
g'raspi'd    mine    heartily,   saying : 

"  Kxcuse  me  if  I  was  somewhat  shaken.  I  as- 
sure A'ou  no  offence  A\as  intended.  .M\'  nanu'  is 
Henderson,  sir.  'Idie  young  lady  yon  saved  from 
the  watei'  is  my  ward,  Miss  Dora  Henderson.  I 
am  deeph  vour  (lel)tor.  Please  step  into  the  room 
with  nu'."" 

1  rather  I'eluetantly  eomplied,  for  though  T  was 
anxious  to  knoA\-  if  Miss  l)t)ra  had  recovered,  I  felt 
I  nuist  be  h^ioking-  out  for  myself  or  go  to  a  rebel 
prison. 

]Miss  Tlenderson  was  in  an  adioinincr  room  and 


ATTACK    OX    SECESSinXVILLE.  287 

was,  so  the  old  negress  who  liad  taken  eharge  of 
her  said,   "•  fast  recovering."' 

Having  learned  this,  I  tnrned  to  Mr.  Henderson, 
saying  : 

"I  am  here,  as  you  must  understand,  under  con- 
ditions of   some  peril,  aiul  will  hid  you  good-day."' 

Then  I  lifted  my  hat  and  was  a1)out  to  go,  when 
he  grasped  n.iy  hand,  saying : 

"■  I  see  —  hum —  haw  —  yes  ;  very  handsome  of 
you,  and  the  circumstances  don't  lessen  my  oljliga- 
tions  in  the  least,"  and  then  significantly  added: 

"  Remeniher  I  know  nothing  beyond  that.  You 
are  safe  here  if  you  will  remain.  I  am  under  great 
ol)ligations  to  you.  1  am  sure." 

He  accom})anied  me  to  the  door  and  I  walked 
down  through  the  grove. 


288  F.\i'iii:n   acaixst  sun. 


CUWTVAX    XXTV. 


DOWN    riii:   i;i\i:i;. 


As  I  walkiMl  down  ihc  iinciiuc  IcadiiiL;-  throni^li 
llic  L;i'(>\'r  I  met  lace  to  lace  the  \(iiiiil;'  t^'ciit k'liiaii 
wlioiii  I  ]ia\'t'  ali'cafly  iiiciitidiicd  having'  seen  witli 
tlic  older  man.  lie  stopped  and  made  a  (pii(dv 
motion  to  liis  liip  |»o{d<ct.  1  did  not  lit'sitatu,  l>ut 
plact'(l   m\-   hand   siL;inliiaiitl\'   to   m\'   belt. 

"Miss  !  Ii'iiik'isoii.""  I  said,  "has  na-t  witli  an  ac- 
cichMit.'" 

Witlioiit  waitiiiL;'  to  licar  more  he  started  up  tlie 
avenue  as  if  lie  had  been  shot  out  of  a  yun.  I 
smileil  to  myself  to  see  how  (piiekly  I  had  turned 
the   eurrent  of   the   youn^   man's   thouyhts. 

Ever  siuee  I  had  [dnn^cd  into  tlie  water,  and 
especially  siuee  I  had  taken  tlie  youug  kidy  \n  my 
arms,  mv  uerves  had  heeu  invigorated  so  that  now 
my  feet  seemed  seart-ely  to  tout'h  the  grouu(k  I 
had  no  sense  of  (kiuu'er.  and  my  mind  was  theu  as 
clear  as  if  (k)iug'  duty  on  slii[)hoard. 

I  found  the  little  boat  from  Avhicli  the  yoiuig 
lady  had  been  precipitated,  diiftiug  iu  the  creek ; 
I  strippetl,  swaiu  out,  and  lirouyht  it  to  the  shore, 
tipped  the  w'ater  from  it,  and  viewed  with  uuich 
satisfaction   the  light  and  graceful  proportions  of 


rxnvx   Till':  river.  280 

the  craft  Avhicli  I  liad  (U-tcntiined,  without  any 
coiupunctions  of  conscience,  to  take  possession  of 
as  an  act  of  war. 

After  dressing-  and  turning  my  coat  once  more, 
so  as  not  to  attract  too  much  attention,  I  took  the 
oars  and  rowed  away  down  the  creek,  out  into  the 
broader  river,  lio[)ing  to  reacli  our  lines. 

I  was  forty  miles  and  more  from  Pamlico  Sound, 
and  how  many  from  my  ship  I  did  not  know : 
I  was  encompassed  l)y  dangers,  without  provisions 
or  any  means  that  I  knew  of  of  obtaining  any.  I 
recognized,  however,  that  I  must  not  hesitate  on 
that  account.  I  decided,  also,  tliat  time  was  of 
the  greatest  consequence  in  this  attempt ;  that 
while  I  could  not  do  wholly  without  food,  I  could 
at  a  pinch  go  forty-eight  hours  with  the  little 
that  I  had  on  hand,  and  must  bear  hunger  I'cso- 
lutely  if  need  be,  rather  than  give  over  my  attempt 
to  reach  my  ship. 

While  thus  busy  with  my  thoughts  I  was  row- 
ing with  a  long,  steady  pull,  and  at  the  same  time 
admiring  the  boat  as  she  shot  through  the  water 
in  answer  to  my  strokes.  In  glancing  her  over,  I 
saw  a  blue  ribbon  which  I  had  no  doubt  belonged 
to  the  young  lady;  I  stopped,  picked  it  up,  and 
wet  as  it  was  placed  it  in  my  breast  pocket.  As  I 
did  so  I  smiled,  and  felt  myself  blushing  at  so 
sentimental  an  act. 

I  rowed  along  near  the  left  Ijank  of  the  river, 
in  order  to  keep  out  of  sight.     I  was  not  a  little 


200  i\\'riii:i;   acaixsi'  sox. 

clatcil  at  tlif  iiiaiiiK'r  in  wliicli,  sd  far.  I  had  cscajird 
ii'diii  tlif  riiiiijiliratious  of  ilic  iiKiniiii^'.  and  alsd  at 
tlic  decided  Id-i^liteuilin'  ( if  lii\"  jU'dSperts.  M  \-  iin- 
derL;'aniieuts  wei'e  wet  Iml  I  did  imi  tiiiiid  that,  for 
a  saih)]' ^■i■ts  aeeii.sti  lined  in  it  as  diie  df  tlie  iiise[)- 
ai'alile  cdinniidiis  dl'  his  life  d)i  ilic  sea.  The 
weaUiei'  was  iiiil(h  and  tlie  exereise  df  l■d\\•in^■  kept 
nie  warm. 

1  hdii!_;li,  as  a  \\diiih\  I  was  iidt  (TissatishiMl  v.dtli 
niy  ediidnet  in  reseniiiL;-  liie  AnnnL;'  lad\"  I  fdnnd 
iiivsell'  i-e\  iew  in^;-  the  deeuri'eiiee.  and  AxishiiiL^'  I 
liad  said  tliis  di'  that,  and  left  tinilttered  the  things 
I  had  said. 

In  alnint  three  hours  I  reaehed  a  [)art  df  the 
ri\'er  where  I  saw  that  the  enein\'  had  atteni}»ted 
td  eonstniet  a  l)arriea(h-.  I  also  saw  an  o]teinn!4' 
whei'e  it  lool-:ed  as  if  the  ••  Spittii'e ""  liad  lir(.il<en 
throUL;h  this  o]»struetion  under  a  full  head  of 
steam.  ( ilaneinn' hi^'h  u}i  dii  the  ri\ cr-lianks  al)OVe, 
I  saw  that  the  enemy  had  a  hatterv  in  pdsitidn 
tliei'e.  Jitstas  I  maih' this  dise(;)\  ery, '*  liang' "  came 
a  I'ejidil  from  one  of  the  n'uns,  and  a  shot  threw 
ti[)  a  jet  of  water  heyond  me.  I  <hd  not  increase 
my  stroke,  for  1  knew  it  was  haid  to  hit  a  niov- 
ahle  target;  l)esides.  if  I  showed  liaste  in  trying 
to  get  away  it  woithl  eoidirm  tlieir  sttspieion  that 
1  was  an  enemy,  and  lead  tlient  to  pay  more  ener- 
getie  attention  to  me  tlian  if  they  were  in  doul)t; 
wdiile  if  I  rowt'd  qttietly  it  wotild  leave  them  un- 
certain, and  1  shotild  ^et  the  benelit  of  it.      With 


DOW.X    Till-:    RIVER.  291 

this  I  rowed  dclilw'i'atL'ly  to  tlio  side  on  \A'liicli  tin' 
battery  was  planlt'il,  as  if  I  was  about  to  land  tht-rc 

When  I  liad  got  under  the  shelter  of  the  shore. 
and  out  of  sight,  I  elnng  close  to  the  wooded  mar- 
gin and  rowed  with  all  my  might,  for  fear  of  an 
unpleasant  challenge.  Circumstances  favored  me, 
and  I  neither  saw  nor  heard  an^'thing  more  from 
the  Confederates  at  that  time. 

I  had  meanwhile  made  such  speed  tliat  I  was 
soon  a  half-mile  from  where  I  had  seen  the  battery. 

It  was  (piite  late  in  the  afternoon  when  1  hove 
in  sight  of  the  schooner  that  had  been  run  on  shore 
1)}'  the  enemy,  and  the  blackened  timbers  of  the 
one  that  they  liad  set  on  hre  to  prevent  it  falling 
into  our  hands.  ^\.s  I  saw  no  one,  I  rowed  up 
under  the  stern  of  the  grounded  craft,  fastened  my 
boat,  and  went  hand  over  hand  up  to  her  deck  by 
means  of  her  davit-ropes  that  hung  dangling  at  her 
stern. 

On  reaching  the  deck  I  gave  another  glance  in 

o  o  O 

every  direction  without  seeing  an  enemy,  and  then 
went  down  the  companionway  into  her  cabin. 

She  had  evidentl}^  been  well  ransacked  before  m}- 
arrival,  and  for  a  time  I  could  find  nothing  to  eat 
to  reward  my  search. 

I  had  about  given  over  the  attempt,  when  I  per- 
ceived in  an  obscure  corner  what  I  thought  was  a 
cupboard.  I  soon  was  satisfied  that  it  was,  and  as 
it  was  locked,  after  some  trouble  in  finding  the 
means  for  doing  so,  I  smashed  in  the  [)anels. 


±)-2  FATiii:/;   .K.AJXs'j'  soy. 

I  was  (Iclii^litcd  to  liiid  wliat  I  have  no  donlti 
was  the  caiilaiii  s  |ii'i\;itc  store  of  food.  Tlicn'  wci'c 
SOUR'  vci y  iiicf  sliij)  hiscnit  of  a  superior  (|ualit\', 
sdiue  caudles,  also  sar(]iiies  and  otlier  canned  ^'oods, 
as  well  as  jams,  cigars,  and  otliei' n'oodies,  such  as 
elieese  and  soda  ei'aek'ei's.  I  lilled  in\' ])ockets  with 
food,  an<l  ate  as  I  went'  ai'ound  tlie  schooner  on  mv 
errand  of  exaniinalioii. 

After  this  I  sat  down  at  a  little  talile  and  satis- 
tied  my  a[ii)<'tite  with  canneil  preser\ cs.  and  oilier 
things,  which  tasteil  so  n'ood  that  I  couhl  have 
shaken  hands  with  the  captain  and  coiu|iliinenle(l 
him  on  his  l;()0(1  taste  in  selecting'  these  pi'ovisioiis 
h)r  me.  A  full  stomach  made  me  find  well 
contented  with  my  (piarters,  and  I  <lecide(l  to 
remain  on  lioai'd  until  dai'k.  ha\c  a  nap,  and  then 
with  darkness  resume  my  journey  dowai  the  ri\'er, 
in  ho[)es  with  the  (kiwn  of  the  next  day  to  tind 
myself  with  still  Itetter  prospects  of  reachiuL;'  ni\' 
shi]). 

llaviuL;'  made  this  decision.  I  lay  down  on  the 
transom  in  tlie  eahin.  dosinj^'  and  thiid<iug  over  tlie 
oecun-ences  of  the  day.  In  spite  of  the  danger 
that  encompassed  me,  1  had  not  l)eeu  al)le  to  get 
the  beautiful  face  of  ^liss  Dora  Henderson  out 
of  my  mind.  T  confess  I  did  uot  like  the  idea  of 
a  little  re])el  taking  so  uuieh  space  on  the  walls  of 
my  fancy,  and  tried  to  shut  her  ottt.  l>ut  try  as  I 
might  her  face  obtruded  itself. 

I  couldn't   itnderstand  it,  for  I  was  not  (or  at 


DfnVX    Tin:    lUVER.  203 

least  up  to  that  time  liad  never  Leen)  su.seeptil)le 
to  the  charms  of  woman  or  girl.  Finally,  I 
explained  to  myself  that,  as  I  had  read  somewhere, 
when  one  does  a  favor  or  renders  a  service  to  a 
})ers()n  he  is  all  the  more  likely  to  have  a  liking'  for 
that  person,  and  I  thought  that  tliis  unusual  antic 
of  my  fancy  nnist  l)e  owing  to  that. 

P>ut  tliis  revery,  or  train  of  thouo-ht,  was  ab- 
i'n}itly  ended  hy  what  sounded  like  the  click  of 
oars.  I  listened,  and  my  worst  fears  Avere  con- 
iirmed  hy  liearing  voices.  I  cautiottsly  sprang  up 
the  com[)anion\vay,  and  peering  over  the  side  of 
the  schooner  saw  a  l)oat  in  which  Avere  three  men 
coming  alongside.  I  at  once  crept  forward  and 
went  down  the  hatchwa}'  of  the  hold,  for  I  knew 
that  they  were  less  likely  to  visit  this  place  than 
the  cabin.  Here  I  stowed  myself  away  otit  of 
siglit.  and  listened.  I  Avas  afraid  that  when  they 
found  my  boat  they  Avould  look  for  me. 

HoAv  long  I  la}'  there  I  do  not  knoAA-,  as  sensa- 
tions very  imperfectly  record  time,  and  often  make 
minutes  seem  like  hours,  or  the  reverse. 

After  a  long  time  of  waiting  without  hearing 
any  more  from  the  intruders,  for  so  I  considered 
them,  I  ventured  on  deck,  crept  aft,  looked  over 
the  stern.  ]My  boat  Avas  gone.  I  now  bitterly 
reproached  myself  for  my  needless  tarry  on  board, 
when  I  might,  as  I  said  to  myself,  liave  been  in 
better  business.  It  was,  lioAvever,  useless  to  get 
blue  OA^er  my  loss.     Neither  did  I  long  debate  the 


■294  /'.  1  7  11 1: 1!    .UiAl  A .s  7 •    ,S (L\. 

course  I  imisl  pursue.  I  resolved  to  swiui  to  the 
shore  in  Di'ler  to  reeo\cr  tlie  hoat  I  had  lost,  or 
if  possiltle    liiid    another. 

I  lirst  \\"eut  down  into  the  eahin  and  lit  one  of 
the  candles  that  wci'c  in  the  captain's  stores,  and 
then  looke(l  tlie  schooner  o\'er  with  the  vai^'ue  hope 
tliat  there  might  l)e  a  skiff  in  her  hold:  hut  there 
Avas  noiu'.  All  that  I  could  lind  that  in  tlu'  least 
reseinhlcil  one  was  a  larL;i'  wash-tid).  I  eai'ried 
this  to  the  deck,  attache(]  a  cord  to  it,  reuioxed 
and  [ilaced  in  it  \\\\  clothiuL;'  and  sonic  of  the  }>ro- 
visions,  and  sol'th"  ^'ettiuL;'  it  o\cr  the  side  of  the 
schooner,  swam  for  (he  shore,  towiny'  the  precious 
tul»  after   me. 

I  iiad  not,  however,  taken  a  dozen  strokes,  when, 
on  lookiuL;'  liack',  I  saw  the  schooner  slowdy  swiug- 
ing  fi'oiu  the  shore.  At  hrst  I  coidd  scarcely 
credit  mv  sc'uscs.  l)ut  wlu'ii  I  hecame  salistie(l  that 
I  was  not  deeeiA'cd,  I  returned,  (dimhed  U[)  ln'r 
side  to  hei'  deck  once  moi'e,  took  U[i  the  tuh, 
dix'ssed.  and  then  going  aft  put  the  hidm  of  the 
eraft  hai'd  aport,  until  she  slowly  swung  around 
with  her  hows  pointing  down  stream.  An  unusu- 
ally high  tide  had  wcjrked  the  vessel  from  the 
mud. 

( )nee  more  mv  ho[)es  rose  at  tlie  thought  that  I 
might  he  ahh'  to  get  l)oth  the  eraft  and  myself  to 
the  steamer.  If,  liowever,  I  anticipated  a  clear 
coui'se  wdth  any  special  favors  from  fortune,  I  was 
out  of  my  reckoning. 


DOWN    Till'     RIVER.  295 

OveiH'onfidenee,  lik(,'  pride,  goes  before  a  fall, 
and  mine  Avas  seareely  on  its  feet  before  it 
stumbled. 

It  was  bright  starlight;  the  sky  was  uiuisnally 
clear,  and  I  had  l)ut  little  difliculty  in  keeping  my 
course  in  the  channel.  The  schooner  moved  so 
slowly  that  I  became  impatient,  and  running  for- 
ward hoisted  the  jib.  This  made  a  creaking  sound 
that  seemed  the  louder  because  of  the  still  night ; 
l)ut  1  did  not  desist  on  that  account.  I  cleated  the 
sheet,  for  the  wind  was  fair,  and  hurrying  aft  once 
more  took  the  tiller  to  bring  her  on  her  course 
(for  she  had  fallen  away  frt)m  it),  when  from  the 
liver  banks  there  was  a  flash  followed  by  the  roar 
of  the  gun.  A  shot  came  crashing  tlu'ough  the 
schooner,  then  came   a  liail  from  the  shore  : 

''What  craft  is  that?'' 

''•  Schooner  '  Blanche,' '"  I  replied,  "■  going  to  try 
and  get  out  by  the  Yankee  gunboats  ;  and  you  've 
hurt  the  '  Blanche  '  with  your  gun." 

For  a  short  time  there  was  no  reply  from  the 
shore;  then  another  voice  called  out: 

'•'■  'T  won't  do  ;  there  "s  no  such  schooner  on  the 
river.      Come  ashore  !  " 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  I  responded,  and  then  putting 
the  helm  a-starboard  to  give  the  appearance  of 
obedience,  I  began  to  take  off  \n\  clothing  once 
more,  put  it  in  the  tub,  which  I  low^ered  over 
the  side,  and  then  followed  it  into  the  water. 

The  river  was  not  wide,  and  I  was  able  to  reach 


20n  FATUllU    AGA/ysT    SOX. 

tlu'  sliore  opposite  to  the  l)att('rv  vcrv  qnickly. 
lle'iv,  al'tei' rt'suiiiiiii;'  my  rlotliiiig.  iiiid  tnekiiig' in 
iii\-  [)ock<'ts  all  tlic  pi'ovisioiis  tlicy  would  hold,  I 
slai'tcfl  u])  tlu'  I'ivri'  liaid\,  cliuclxliiiL;'  in  my  sleeves 
at  tlie  \'anl<ee   ti'icd-:  I  had   played   on   my   enemies. 

I  ha<l  not  i^'one  hir  when  1  heard  the  g'lms  of 
the  liatter\'  han^'in^'  away  at  the  sehooner  onee 
nioic.  I  lauL;'hed  ;il  this,  hut  I  laugdied  too  soon, 
h)i'  dead  ahead  of  nie  there  eame  a  sharp  challenge 
and  the  elieh  of  cocking'  a  nnisket.  "Halt!"' 
eame   the  order  danyerously  near  me. 

I  (pn(dd\-  i-eeog'uized  tliat  it  Avas  of  no  use  to 
ivsist,  as  the  enemy  A\'as  on  hoth  starl)oard  and 
pnrl   sides. 

"  We  uns  are  A\atehin'  f'r  ye  Yank  I "  said  a 
voice. 

I  sui'rendered  with  as  nnich  g'race  as  Avas  possi- 
hle,  and  with  a  guard  l)efore  and  l)ehind  me  was 
marched  t(»  a  house  near  hy,  wdiere,  in  a  large 
i-ooni  lighted  only  hy  a  pitch-pine  tire,  sat  at  a 
tahle  t\\-(^  Coid'ederate  officers.  One  of  these  was 
a  young  and  pleasant-looking  person,  dressed  in 
the  unifoiin  of  a  lieutenant-colonel,  and  the  other 
was  a  tall  and  humorous-looking  individual,  who 
was  acting  as  adjutant  to  the  lirst-named,  wdio  was 
in  eonnnand  of  the  forces  stationed  there. 

••  We  uns  have  got  a  Yankee  s})y,  kennel,"  said 
the  sergeant  wdio  acc(impanied  me.  The  colonel 
looked  at  me  from  head  to  foot  as  1  said,  somewhat 
angrily: 


THE    RIVER    WAS    NOT   WIDE,    AND    I    WAS    ABLE   TO    REACH    THE    SHORE 
OPPOSITE   TO   THE    BATTERY. 


DOWy    THE    RIVER.  297 

"I  am  Ensign  Jolnistone,  of  the  United  States 
navy,  sir,  and  I  ol)je('t  to  tins  man's  insulting 
epithet." 

"Where  is  your  uniform,  sir?"  said  the  colonel 
sharph',  and  [)ointing  to  my  coat,  which  was  still 
wrong  side  out. 

I  unhuckled  my  belt  and  passed  him  my  arms 
and  then  took  off  my  coat  and  put  it  on  right 
side  out,  as  a  i'e})ly  to  his  (question. 

The  colonel  nodded  pleasantly,  and  said,  "  Take 
a  seat,  sir,  and  explain  why  you  are  here  in  dis- 
guise.'" 

I  thanked  him,  took  the  proffered  seat,  and  re- 
plied : 

"■  I  am  one  of  the  party  that  made  an  attack  on 
Secessionville.  I  Q-ot  left  behind,  and  not  being- 
able  to  reach  the  steamer  in  season  she  sailed  with- 
out me,  and  I  have  been  trying  my  best  to  get  out 
of  your  country  ever  since." 

"•  Sort  o'  felt  you  wa'n't  appreciated  here  'mong 
the  rel)s,  I  suppose  ?  "  said  the  adjutant. 

"•'  On  the  contrary,  sir,"  I  replied,  in  the  same 
tone,  "  I  felt  that  they  appreciated  me  too  well, 
after  our  visit." 

The  colonel  smiled  with  easy  confidence  as  he 
said  : 

"  We  won't  discuss  the  mattei'  liere  —  this  is 
not  a  trial,  and  we  will  not  condenni  you ;  that  is 
for  others  to  do,  if  it  is  to  be  done."  Then  he 
said  pleasantly,  "  It  was  a  very  gallant  and  daring 


2n.S  FAllli:i!     ACMXST    SO.V. 

u(l\ cnliu'c.  that  I'aid  of  your  j^'unboat  U[)  the  rivei'. 
I  wiiiild  haw  (Idiif  as  iiiucli  for  the  Vaiiks  if  1  could 
liavr  tlic  pleasure  of  L;cltiuL;'  into  their  country;  hut 
you  nuist  u"t  ex|iec-t  that  our  folks  are  ^'oiui;'  to  he 
pleased  at  your  visit,  or  feel  surprise  if  they  niaki' 
V(iu  suffer  some   incoiiveiui'Uces  on   account  ol    it." 

Shortly  aftei'  this  some  food  \\'as  hroui^ht  in  that 
sm(dle<l  \ery  app>  t  i/.iii^'. 

••Will  \ou  joiii  us  at  supper,  sir?"  said  the 
coloiud   polit(dy. 

•• 'I1iaid;s,""  1  said:  •'you  liave  evidently  seen 
st'rvii-e,  and  a[)preciate  that  a  man  may  l)e  a  pris- 
<»ner  and  \ct  a  L;,<'ntleman."" 

'•  Ves,  I  was  made  a  pi'isoner  at  Malvern  Hill, 
Lj'ot  a  shot  ill  the  left  win^'.""  he  said,  liftiuL;'  that 
arm.  which  1  now  for  the  tirst  time  noticed  hung 
rathei'  limp  hv  his  side.  "  I  h;ul  no  cause  for  com- 
plaint while  T  was  with  the  Yaid<s.  It's  ahout 
all  the  vacation  I  've  had  since  this  war  hegan  :  *" 
and  the  x'oung  coloiud  smiled. 

••  (  )iu' peo[)le.""  said  tlu'  adjutant,  ••have  heeii  a 
o-()(id  deal  stirred  u[)  hy  the  visit  of  your  steamei', 
and  hetween  heing  riled  and  surpi'ised,  they  are 
likely  to  he  powerful  unceremonious  in  the  kind 
of  reception   they  give  you." 

••  Well,"  I  said,  ••  I  hardly  expeet  they  will 
shower  me  with   rose-water.** 

•'No,  I  iT'ckon  not."  said  the  colonel;  these 
homh-pi'oofs  are  luMvy  dogs,  1  reckon,  when  they 
have  caught  a   ^^uik." 


Dowy  nil-:  river.  299 

After  I  had  Ik^mi  to  su[)pt'r  I  was  sent  to  the 
g'uard-rooin,  whicli  was  a  shed  attached  to  tlic 
liuilding'.  Here  I  hiy  (h)wii  and  slept  more  soundly 
than  most  people  do  in  their  beds. 

In  the  morning  the  eourteous  colonel  in^"itl■d  nie 
to  breakfast,  allowed  me  the  use  of  soap  and  water, 
and  otherwise  treated  me  with  as  much  courtesy 
as  if  I  had  been  his  friend  instead  of  an  enemy. 

"  I  have  orders  to  send  you  to  Secessionville,"  he 
said  after  breakfast.  "'I  sn[)pose  you  will  l)e  on 
exhibition  there  for  a  while."' 

I  thanked  the  colonel  for  his  courtesy,  and  then, 
under  guard,  was  marched  away  to  tlie  town  tliat 
had  so  lately  been  the  recipient  of  so  many  atten- 
tions from  the  officers  and  men  of  the  ''  Spitfire  " 
tliat  I  thought  it  not  unlikely  the}'  would  consider 
it  a  matter  of  honor  to  return  them  all  on  my 
unworthy  self. 

I  was  so  closely  guarded  during  this  march  that 
there  was  not  the  slightest  chance  for  me  to  get 
away.  The  tramp  was  a  long  one,  and,  unaccus- 
tomed as  I  was  to  such  exercise,  I  was  very  tired 
when  we  halted  for  the  night  some  ten  miles  from 
the  town. 

The  next  morning,  after  an  uneventful  night, 
we  resumed  our  march,  and  reached  Secessionville 
a  little  after  noon,  wliere,  like  an  ordinary  crim- 
inal, I  was  consigned  to  the  common  jail. 


oOO  FATHER    AdAIXST    SON. 


CIIAPTRR   XXY. 


TIMKI)    AMI     ('(>XI)1:MXI:I). 


I  HAD  lu'^iui  to  Ion II  a  very  lii^li  estimate  of  the 
Soutlieni  |)eo[»lf.  The  coiisidcralr  courtesy  of  tlie 
\-oiin'_;-  colonel  and  the  ^'ciicral  ^'ood  treatment  l»y 
tlic  soldiers  \\lio  foi'iiKMl  my  yuard  led  me  to 
l)(di('vc  that  I  should  I'cctdvc  all  the  consideration 
allowed  hy  military  rides.  I  had  not  the  slightest 
idea,  notwithstanding  the  hints  that  had  1»een 
thrown  out  hy  the  young  oflieer,  that  I  should  l>e 
regarded  othei'wist'  than  as  a,  prisoner  of  war.  I 
did  not  then  know  tliat  the  most  vindictive  enemy 
in  WAV  is  the  non-cond)atant  :  that  those  who  are 
lighting  Avith  heaiiy  godd-wiH  lose  all  tlieir  viu- 
dietiveness  \\hen  their  enemies  are  helpless  in  their 
liands  ;  that  those  Avlio  have  not  had  hard  fighting 
ai'e  apt  to  wi'eak  on  defenceless  [irisoners  of  war, 
whom  Providence  has  thrown  into  tlieir  hands,  all 
the  accumulated  hatred  of  their  liearts,  which  is 
all  the  more  l)itter  l)eeanse  they  are  too  eoAvardly 
to  meet  their  enemy  in  1)attle.  where,  strange  as  it 
may  ap[)ear,  men  often  gain  a  hearty  respect  for 
one  another. 

The  moment  T  came  in  coiitaet  with  those  wlio 
had  not  heen  liijhtino-  I  beo-an  to  receive  I'oualiaiid 


TRfED    AXD    CONDEMNED.  -^01 

disrespectful  treiitineiit.  The  Home  Guard  that  had 
taken  charge  of  me  at  the  town  heaped  on  me 
insulting  epithets,  the  mildest  of  which  was 
"Yankee,  thief,  and  a1)olitionist." 

At  the  jail  a  young  (officer  of  the  Home  Guard, 
in  a  sort  of  "stand  and  deliver"  style,  relieved  me 
of  knife,  handkerchief,  and  also  of  my  watch  (a 
gift  from  my  father),  and  all  of  my  money  he  could 
find  on  my  person,  though  he  did  not  get  all,  for  I 
had  concealed  in  my  shoes  two  five-dollar  green- 
backs ;  and  as  he  did  so,  with  every  article  taken, 
he  reiterated  the  remark,  apparently  for  my  conso- 
lation, "  Contraband  of  war,  sar !  " 

After  this  ceremony,  for  the  young  fellow,  with 
his  ritualistic  reiteration,  evidently  intended  to 
•make  it  such,  I  was  put  into  a  closet-like,  narrow 
room,  which  had  not  a  single  window  in  it,  nor 
apparently  any  other  means  of  ventilation.  The 
light  was  completely  excluded  from  it,  so  that, 
though  it  was  still  day  when  I  was  put  there,  I 
could  not  for  a  time  distinguish  its  size  or  contents. 
It  had  an  ill  smell  as  if  untidy  and  filthy  persons 
had  been  confined  there  previous  to  my  incarcer- 
ation. 

As  I  sat  in  one  corner  of  this  pen  I  heard  the 
sound  of  footsteps,  the  door  opened,  and  a  flood  of 
light  poured  from  a  window  in  the  corridor ;  and 
then  for  the  first  time  in  my  life  I  realized  how 
good  and  beautiful  daylight  was. 

"Whar'  ar'  y',  y'  durned  Yankee  spy?"  said  the 


FA/n/'J;     .K.A/XST     SoX. 


person:  and  liicii  tlicrc  apprarcd  a  lace  dxcr  his 
slioiildcr.  wliicli  1  at  (iiicc  rfi-(iL;-iii/.(Ml  as  tliat  ot  llif 
\(iU1il;'  man  win. mi  I  liad  heard  .Mr.  Ilcnih^rson  call 
.((ihn    l'"rl'(ild. 

"  Whew  !  ""  he  ejaculated:  "it  smells  of  the 
durneil    ^^|ld-;.      (iet    a    lanteni." 

'*  Would  n"l  it  he  well,  -lolin  l-'ei'old."  1  said,  "to 
take  me  out  into  li,L;ht  and  air  7  "" 

I    heard   an   exidamation   of  sui'prise  as   the   door 
A\'as  slanniied.  and    1    thon^iit    the\'  hoth   h.id  ^-one  :  . 
l)ut    the\'    soon    came    hark-    with    a    hmtern.      This 
\\'as    held    up    while    l^'erold    took    a    sui'xaw   of    me. 

"  Ves.  it  "s  the  same  \  ankce  sp\-  I  saw  down  to 
Henderson's."  he  said.  ••  ^  on  see  he  is  a  spy.  else 
how   did   he   know   ni\    name'.'"" 

'•'I  should  like  a  deci-nt  )-oom.""  I  said.  "I 
should  he  just  as  seeiire.  Mi'.  l"'erold.  in  clean 
(piarters  as  in  this  pen.  where  you  ha\e  ke}tt  iie^'i'o 
prisoners,  evidently."" 

"See,""  he  said  to  the  other,  "'he  knows  all  altout 
this  country."' 

That  nin'ht  I  I'eviewed  the  circumst;inces  inuka' 
which  I  liad  heen  captured  in  the  enemy's  country, 
httt  could  see  no  reason  why  any  sn(di  charge  as 
that  of  hein^'  a  sj»y  should  lie  l»roUL;ht  a^aiirst  me. 
I  at  least  liad  heen  yuilty  of  no  conduct  exce[»t 
such  as  I  was  read}'  to  re[)eat  if  I  ever  i^ot  tlie 
cliance. 

It  was  not  until  the  next  iiiornine-  that  any  food 
was  ^iN'cn  nie,  and  that  was  a  poor  (piality  of  corn- 


TRIED    AXn    mXDEMNED.  r,(»:3 

Lread,  Avitli  water.  Vrt  poor  as  it  was  I  could 
have  eaten  more  if  I  liad  had  it,  my  loiii;-  fast  had 
inspired  such  an  ap})etite  ;  for  in  addition  to  a  hmg 
fast  I  had  hoth  a  Ijoy's  and  a  sailor's  ap[)etite  I 

The  man  who  had  charge  of  me  was  called  ''  Jake," 
and  I  do  not  know  that  he  had  any  other  name  ; 
to  mv  surprise  he  neither  ahused  nor  insulted  me. 
He  let  me  severely  alone,  simpl}-  doing  what  he 
had  ti)  do  and  saying  wdiat  he  had  to  say,  being- 
scant  of  ceremony  in  either  act  or  manner. 

On  the  third  (kiy  of  my  incarceration  I  was  taken 
from  tlie  jail  and  under  guard  was  marched  out 
into  daylight.  I  knew  not  what  it  was  for,  l)ut 
I  was  glad  once  again  to  breathe  clean  air  and  see 
the  light  of  the  snn.  T  was  not,  howevei',  prepared 
for  the  unnsual  attention  I  received,  and  the  ex- 
citement that  my  a[)pearance  caused  on  the  streets 
of  the  little  town. 

A  large,  noisy,  and  excited  crowd  had  gatliered 
there,  reminding  me  of  a  gathering  on  the  streets 
of  my  native  Wichnor  to  see  a  circns  come  to 
town,  only  there  was  none  of  the  good-nature  of 
such  a  gatliering. 

Above  the  rattle  of  a  drum  and  the  shrill  shriek- 
ing of  a  fife  I  could  bear  muttered  cui'ses  and 
exclamations  of  rage  and  hatred.  Though  I 
marched  with  stolid  demeanor  and  a  firm  manner, 
with  my  face  fairly  to  the  front,  I  caught  glimpses 
of  the  angry  gestures  of  men,  w^omen,  and  even 
children.     The  crowd  bad   evidently  been  drawn 


■".< »4  F.  1 77//;/.'   .  1  (;.  I  /.VN y  ,s-o.y. 

tlierc  1)y  ihiikh's  (so  1  iiil"cm'(l  tVom  tlio  rciiuirks 
I  licard  )  of  the  (Mptillr  of  olic  of  the  Valikrc  van- 
dals tliat  liail  stolen  the  mail  and  the  jiostmastcr's 
scr\'ants.  and  wlio  had  lu'cn  s[)yinL;'  aronnd  lliu 
town   ('\t'r  since. 

•'  I  )anyeroiis-lookinL;-  cnstoniei'.""  said  one. 

abolition  tliitd'.""  adde(l  anotliei'. 

••  ( 'nni"  down  li\ar  to  steal  onr  in^u'ers  and  L;'ot 
tookeii  liisself.""  said  another  Aoiee. 

-A  sneakiiiL;'  \'ank'eel""  ejaenlated  anothei' : 
'•  woiidei'  how  he  "11  like  \\-e  nns  after  he  "s  had 
\\\\\\{    he  "11    L;it.    1   reckon."" 

''He  ^\'on"t  sta^■  Ioiil;'  "iion^h.""  facetionslv  said 
another.  "I  i'e(d<on.  to  express  an  opiinon  afti'r 
he   ^its   it."" 

"No,""  said  a  citizen  \\ith  a  hoarse  voice  and  a 
justice's  stoniach.  ''there'll  l)e  no  law's  delay:  ;i 
(Irunihead  conit-niartial  and  rojx'."" 

I'his  remai'k  ,L;ave  nie  for  the  lirst  time  the 
tlion!.;'lit  that,  in  their  rai^'e  and  (diaL;'ian  at  oni'  dar- 
ing' atta(d<;  on  their  town,  they  miyht  execute  me 
if  they  could   lind  any  kind  of  pretext  for  it. 

The  euri'ent  of  my  thoughts  was  s[)eedily  turned 
when,  seated  in  a  carriage,  I  saw  Miss  Dora  Hen- 
derson and  lier  guardian.  They  looked  earnestly 
toward  me  with  tlie  evident  attempt  to  i(UMitify 
me  with  the  Yankee  ol'licer  they  had  met  under 
different  ciretimstanees,  and  then  ]\Iiss  Dora  bowed 
to  me  and  smiled,  as  if  to  a  friendly  ae(ptaintanee. 

I  lifted  my  hat  in  response,  and  at  the  same  in- 


TRIED    AND    COKDEMXED.  305 

stant  was  prodded  l)y  one  of  tlie  guard  witli  his 
bayonet.  The  sharp  instrument  liurt  me,  l»ut  I 
felt  willing  to  receive  its  duplicate  for  another  nod 
and  smile  of  I'ecognition.  I  was,  however,  liurried 
on.  and  saw  no  more  of  her  or  her  guardian.  The 
sunshine  seemeil  to  pass,  and  clouds  of  sullen  hate 
and  rage  supplant  it ;  and  at  the  same  time  there 
came  to  my  heart  and  mind  a  conflict  of  emotion 
like  an  angry  storm  beating  tliere.  Yet  there  was 
comfort  in  the  thought  that  I  had  friends  among 
my  enemies.  But  the  undercurrent  of  my  reflec- 
tions was  : 

'•  Had  I  lived  through  so  man}-  dangers  for  this? 
Was  I  in  \\\\  father's  home  to  l)e  treated  with  this 
indignity,  without  sympathy  and  Avithout  any  one 
to  defend  me  ?  '' 

Then  I  found  myself  passing  through  a  wide 
doorway,  and  soon  saw  that  I  was  at  the  court- 
house. 

I  was  conducted  to  a  seat,  and  a  man  with  a 
musket  stationed  on  each  side  of  me. 

''  What  have  they  brought  me  here  for  ?  "*  I  said 
to  one  of  these  men. 

"  T'  be  tried,  I  reckon." 

"  What  for  ?  " 

No  response  was  given  to  tliis  inquiry. 

The  members  of  the  court  Ijegan  to  take  their 
seats ;  eager,  as  it  seemed,  to  dispose  of  me  with 
pul)lic  applause  and  popular  ap})roval.  I  thought, 
as'  I   looked  in  their  faces,  that  in  them  was  ex- 


noc)  FAriii:n  acaixst  snx. 

|)i'cssc(]  tlic  li'iist  111'  ImiiKiii  sympatliy  T  lia<l  ever 
seen. 

Till.'  jikIl;'!'  ;i(lvncatr.  wlio  (as  I  at'tt.'vwanls 
IcanitMl  )  li.iil  liccii  a  lawyci'  of  a  small  }n_'ltilV)^-n'iiiL'; 
prai-licr.  ai.d  also  a  local  jidlitii-iaii.  roiKliictcij 
llic  trial  as  if  lie  wciT  a  prc^fciiliuL;"  atloiiifv  in 
a  criiiiiiial  case,  ami  llirii  1  l)('L;aii  to  iiiiderstaiid 
m\"    (lander. 

•■  W'liat  is  \(»iir  name  ami  Imsiuoss '/ ""  lir  iii- 
(luircti. 

"  Ilczclviali  Jolnistoiic.  sii':  I  am  an  eiisi^^'ii  in 
(lie  i'liilnl  Slates  na\\'.  and  \\;is  one  of  the  civw 
of   ihf   'Spitlire"   tliat    lately   paid   you   a    visit." 

'Idiere  was  a  murmiii'  oi'  inarticulate  voices  in 
the  court,  which  I  intei'prcteil  as  that  of  astonish- 
ment that  I  should  dare  to  niak(.'  such  an  admis- 
sion, and  then  the  red-faced  jud^e  advocate 
L;-lowei'e(l   at    me   as   he    exidainied    tiercely : 

••  What  did  \'o"  cum  liyar  hi',  and  what  was  y'r 
hvar  hi"  in  disL;'uise  '.'  " 

"I  was  here  at  the  conunaixl  of  my  superior 
oflicer.  to  assist  in  destroying;-  puhlic  stores;  to 
seize  the  mails  or  any  other  puhlic  property  or 
munitions  of  Avar.  T  suhmit  that  our  acts  were 
those  of  houorahle  warhire.  Idiere  has  l)een  an 
insinuation  thrown  out  that  I  was  acting  as  a  spy. 
I  was  accidentally  left  Indiind.  and  have  thnu'  my 
hest  to  elude  the  vigilance  <if  your  peo[)le  and  es- 
cape :  if  that  is  spying,  then  T  am  a  spy.  If  I  am 
treated  otherwise  than  as  an  houorahle  [irisoner  of 


TRIED    AXD    rOXDEMXED.  307 

war,  1  warn  you  that  my  sliipniates  \\'ill  avenge 
such  acts." 

The  judn'c  a(lv()cate  liad  lieen  growiny  red  in 
liis   face,   and  now  ejacuhited   with  great  temper: 

'•  Wc  "11  show  y'  what  we  "11  do,  sar  !    Sit  down  !  " 

I  did  so,  feeling  that  no  mercy  would  he  shown 
to  me  l)y  that  court. 

After  that  witnesses  were  called.  ( )ne  of  these 
testified  that  he  liad,  as  he  said,  seen  me  steal  the 
mail  at  the  post-office;  tliat  lie  knew  me  to  he  the 
same  [»crson  who  had  stolen  the  postmaster's  ser- 
vants, and  who  had  insulted  the  wife  of  that  official. 

The  young  colonel  who  ea[)tured  me  gave 
testimony  that  when  I  was  hrought  to  liim  my 
coat  was  on  wrong  side  out,  hut  also  added  that 
lie  would  not  call  this  a  disguise.  Then  the  sol- 
diers ^^ho  had  captured  me  gave  their  testimony 
in  reference  to  tlie  faets  which  the  reader  already 
knows. 

Thus  far  the  incident  of  the  rescue  of  ^liss  Hen- 
derson had  not  been  alluded  to,  and  I  was  glad  it 
had  not  heen,  as  I  felt  assured  that  the  so-called 
court  had  adjudged  me  guilty  1)efore  taking  up 
my  case  ;  that  it  w^as  convened  to  condemn,  and 
not  to  acquit. 

When  I  thought  from  appearances  that  the  evi- 
dence was  all  in,  there  came  from  the  rear  of  the 
court-room  a  note  to  the  judge  advocate. 

"  Ah  !  "  he  ejaculated  with  satisfaction ;  ''  more 
evidence.      Another  witness,    gentlemen ;    one   of 


308  FATHi'.R   Aa.irxsr  snx. 

our  most  ri'Sjicctctl  citi/riis.  I lonoiMldc  Mr.  TTcii- 
(li'l'soli  will   take  the  slniid. 

'riicix'  was  a  Imstlc  as  tlir  old  i^'ciitltMinm  (wlio 
lias  alri'adx'  lit'cii  in t I'odiu-i'd  to  Ihc  reader)  eaiiie 
slowh'  t'orwai'd.  eoiii1eoir-<l\-  l)owiii;j  riui'lit  ami  lett 
to  Ills  liei'_;'lil)iil's  :  as  he  rea  'IkmI  me  he  liowecl  :iiid 
extended  his  hand,  and  in  the  most  courleoiis 
manner   said    to   the    jndu'e  : 

"  iCxeiise  me.  l)iit  I  am  under  peeuliar  olili^a- 
tions  to  this  \'onn^'  ^'eiitleman.  He  rescued  my 
ward  from  a  most  jierilous  position,  ami  she  is 
\-er\-  Ljratel'id.  1  assure  }'ou,  and  so  am  I.  'i'here 
are   otliei'  reasons  *"  — 

••  W'e  ale  informed  li\-  l.ieuteuan.t  l'^■rold  that 
lie  stole  a  l»oat  helon^iiiL;-  to  you,"  interrupted  the 
jud^'e,  with  hein'htened  color. 

•'Ah,  yes;  the  l)oat  I  I  have  not  complained  of 
its  loss,  sar:    whv  should  any  one  (dse '/ 

The  jud^'e  ath'ocate  had  l»y  this  timo  h>st  liis 
temper,  and  the  other  members  of  the  court 
frowned  and  moved  nervously  in  their  seats,  and 
one  of  them,  with  a   Ioul;'.  sharp  face,  said: 

•'1  [)rotest  that  this  is  not  a  court  of  compli- 
ments, 1»ut  a  court  of  war  to  try  a  Yankee  spy  for 
his  life." 

"I  beg"  vour  par»h>n.  gentlemen,"  said  Mr.  Hen- 
derson, looking  at  the  s[»eaker  with  cool  contempt. 
''In  all  deference  to  the  person  who  has  just 
spoken,  and  to  the  court.  I  say  all  })laces  admit  of 
the  exchange  of  courtesies  l>etween  gentlemen,  and 


TRIED    ANT)    C0XI>EMXI:D.  300 

I  have  not  to  leai'ii  the  correct  manners  due  to  [)olite 
society  and  among  gentlemen  —  if  that  person  has." 

After  testifying  to  the  occurrences  that  have  heen 
elsewhere  narrated,  he  was  asked  by  the  judge : 

''  Do  you  mean  t(^  sav  that  you  loaned  your  hoat 
to  a  Yankee  who  was  trying  to  escape  ?  "' 

^Ir.  Henderson  stared  at  the  speaker,  with  cdoI 
contempt  expressed  in  his  manner,  and  replied  in 
his  cool,  level,  unexcited  voice : 

''  I  mean  that  I  have  no  charge  against  tliis 
man  for  taking  the  l)oat :  and  I  do  not  know  that 
any  one  has  a  right  to  say  he  stole  it.'* 

"  Thanks  I '"  I  ejaculated,  for  his  generous  \\'ords 
had  saved  my  self-respect. 

After  giving  his  testimony  the  old  gentleman 
sat  down,  twirled  his  eye-glasses  in  his  fingers,  and 
looked  at  the  court  with  the  assurance  of  one  who 
was  accustomed  to  exact  respect  from  all. 

Then  the  court  was  cleared  and  its  members  put 
their  heads  together  in  consultation. 

The  judge  cleared  his  tlu'oat  and  said : 

"  This  court  finds  you  guilty  of  all  the  specifi- 
cations and  charges.  It  has  been  proven  that  you 
stole  our  negroes,  insulted  our  women  and  stole 
our  mail,  and  committed  other  depredations  un- 
known to  the  license  of  war.  You  were  finally 
found  in  disguise  within  our  lines,  posted  in  the 
names  and  private  affairs  of  our  people.  You 
have  been  found  guilty  of  trying  to  incite  servile 
insurrection  and  of  being  a  spy." 


310 


FATllEU    AdAINST    SON. 


Mr.  I  lt'ii(lcrs(iii  had  iiiranwliilc  k'l't  tlic  i-ouit  with- 
out cwn  1( Hiking'  at  inc. 

I  was  t('ri'il»l\-  IVi^iitciKM]  and  shaken  liy  this 
verdirt.  th(niL;li  I  tried  not  tn  'X^\(-'  tliosc'  present 
tlir  satisi'actioii  dl'  seeing;'  it.  'V\n'  iii('inl»c'rs  oiicf 
iimrc  ('•(iiisiiltfd  tdLicthfr.  after  which  I  was 
iiiarclitMl  out  of  the  room  and  down  the  street, 
hee[>inL;'  ste[)  in  as  lirni  and  nidlineliinj^'  a  manner 
as  ])ossil)k'. 

Theve  was  a  tunntlt  of  \diees,  and  an  answeiing 
tumidt  in  m\  own  heart  and  liraiii. 

If  tliere  was  one  feeling-  (h'eper  tlian  that  of 
indi^'nation.  it  was  the  (h'termination  that  my 
enemies  should  not  see  any  fi'ar  or  weakness  in 
my  marniei',  liowever  nuicli  I  miglit  feel,  and  that 
if  I  nuist  die  I  would  die  as  heeame  an  ot'lieer  in 
the  service  of  his  cuuniry. 

In  a  momerd  more  I  A\-as  inside  of  the  jail,  with 
feelings  which  1  shall  not  attempt  to  describe. 


ENEMIES,     YET    EILIEXDS.  yil 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

ENEMIES,    YET    FRIENDS. 

When  alone  once  more  in  mj-  prison  quarters, 
all  the  firmness  and  stoicism  with  which  I  had 
outwardly  encrusted  myself  dissolved  before  the 
thought  of  my  impending  chjom.  I  had  no  friends 
on  whom  I  could  call  for  help  in  my  extreme  need, 
and  I  had  little  hope  that  anything  could  l^e  done 
for  me  if  I  had  had  such  friends.  I  had  seen 
enough  of  war  to  know  that  there  was  little 
mercy  in  it.  I  understood  the  angry  resentment 
aroused  by  depredations  committed  during  the  raid. 
I  also  understood  that  it  was  not  so  much  what  I 
had  done  as  it  was  to  prevent  similar  incursions 
into  their  country,  and  what  they  were  pleased  to 
call  Yankee  vandalism,  —  that  I  was  simply  the 
scapegoat ;  a  sort  of  target  on  which  to  score  their 
sense  of  outrage. 

I  did  not  sleep  nuich  during  the  long  night  that 
followed,  but  went  over  again  and  again,  in  a 
nervous  and  sinking  spirit,  the  events  of  the  few 
preceding  days,  and  those  of  the  court  which  had 
so  unjustly  accused  and  condemned  me.  I  was 
young  and  loved  life,  and  did  not  then  appreciate 
the  fact  that  life  is  at  best  but  short.     Let  me  not 


312  FATHER    AOAIXST    SOy. 

conceal  the  fact  tliat  iiiv  mind  was  so  l)ecloiuled 
Avitli  L;looni  that  1  was  indi^-nant,  ahnost  to  hatred, 
at  my  <lear  tatlu'i'  for  i(h'iitifvinL;'  himself  with  such 
a   cause,   and   for  l)einn'   one   of  sueli   a   [ieo}>le. 

J  had  heeii  lauglil  to  prav  !)\  l)oth  my  fatlu'r  and 
]nother.  l)Ut  during'  llie  moiitlis  I  liad  l)een  at  sea 
ainoni;'  roUL;ii  sailors  I  liad  neL;ieete<l  to  ask  (iod 
for  His  protection  and  care.  I  [>  to  tliis  time  since 
niv  eajiture  I  had  Ix'cn  more  [iroud  than  fearless; 
for   I    was   afraid   of    Ix-inL;'   thoULi'hl    cowardly. 

.\s  the  houi's  of  the  nii;ht  draL:',L;t'd  on  I  thought 
of  all  this,  as  I  rolled  and  twisted  in  nervous  a^'ony 
on  m\'  [)0or  hed.  lint  now  ha\iiiL;'  given  u})  all 
hope  of  human  succor,  I  prayed,  as  I  had  never 
prayed  before,  h)r  (iod"s  hel[)  and  sustaining  power, 
that  I  might  he  able  to  Ijcar  my  burdens  like  a 
Christian,  a  sailor,  and  a  man. 

After  long  travail,  and  when  Ijroken  in  spirit, 
1  had  surrendered  myself  to  Ilim:  when  I  asked 
no  longer  for  earthly,  but  for  spiritual  deliverance, 
there  came  to  me  such  an  illumination  of  soul  and 
softening  of  my  pride  and  resentment,  even  tow- 
ards my  enemies,  that  1  prayed  that  they  nnght 
be  forgiven.  Then  there  fell  on  me  such  a  reaction 
of  })eace  and  joy  as  1  had  never  l)efore  experienced. 
The  burden  of  agony  and  gloom  that  had  rested 
on  my  mind  rolled  from  me  as  if  it  were  some- 
thing material.  The  terrors  of  death  no  longer 
o[)[)ressed  me,  and  I  shortly  fell  into  a  long  and 
dreandess  sleep. 


ENEMIES,     YET    FRIENDS.  31  o 

When  at  last  T  awoko  1  Mas  cheerful,  and  looked 
without  fear  at  the  future. 

In  a  few  moments  aftei-  waking,  Jake  came  in 
and  looked  at  me  curiously  as  I  smilingly  greeted 
him,  saying:  "Youngster,  y*  Avar  sleeping  powerful 
this  mornin"  when  I  fust  come  in  yere  ;  }■'  looked 
so  comfortable  an'  kin  o'  peaceful  that  I  would  n"t 
wake  y'  I     It  seemed  to  me  that  y*  did  n't  realize." 

"•  Thank  you,  Jake,"  I  said.  '•  I  realize  that  I 
have  been  condenmed  as  a  spy,  and  that  I  cannot 
expect  any  mercy.  But  I  am  innocent ;  and  if  I 
die  it  is  for  my  country.  I  have  forgiven  my  ene- 
mies." 

"I  reckon  they  won't  forgive  )jou  much,  Yank. 
But  say,  Squar  Henderson  has  bin  hyar  this 
morning,  t'  know  "f  thar  was  anythin'  he  c"d  do, 
an'  then  I  told  him  yo'  war  in  this  nigger  hole  an' 
he  jist  looked  mad,  an'  I  've  got  orders  t'  move  yo' 
to  a  better  place.  I  think  he  must  hev  tore 
'round  some.     Come,  git  out  o*  hyar  I  " 

The  room  to  which  I  was  conducted  was  a 
square,  large  room  with  two  grated  windows  facing 
the  west.  It  had  a  comfortable  bed  in  one  corner, 
two  chairs,  and  a  table.  I  did  not  care  so  much 
for  the  latter  as  for  the  air  and  light.  Jake  aston- 
ished me  further  by  bringing  me  a  breakfast  of 
ham,  eggs,  and  coffee. 

"  The  squar  wants  y'  to  be  well  fed,  y'  see," 
said  Jake  ;  "  told  me  t'  git  y'  what  y'  needed  an' 
he  'd  settle  th'  bill." 


ol-4  FATHER    A(;AL\ST    SOX. 

'' liiit,"  T  said,  "T  can't  accept  such  favors:  lici'c- 
aftcr  hriii^'  inc  tlic  piisoii  fare  :  tliat  "s  l)L'ttci'  than 
to  l)c  ill  debt.  Here  "s  a  i^'reenhaclv  for  the  break- 
fast,"' foi'  I  liad  coiiceahMl  this  money  liefoi'e  l)eing 
searched,  "and  if  you  \\\\\  L;-et  nie  some  jteiis,  ink, 
[)a})er,  and  en\'elopes  you  can  take  })ay  tVu'  it  out 
of  the    \'." 

WHieii  tlie  writiuL;-  materials  came  I  hi'st  A\'i'ote  a 
h'tter  of  L;'i'ateful  tlianks  to  Mr.  Ih'iiih'rson.  1  said 
tliat  wliile  I  could  not  accept  [lecuniai'v  help  I 
should  h'cl  under  ^reat  ol)l illations  to  liini  if  he 
^\'ould  L;'ct  sonu'  letters  to  my  friends,  especiallv 
those   addressed   to   my    hither  and   mother. 

I  then  ^\•l■ote  letters  to  them  and  Phil,  and  ti» 
m\  captain  :  all  of  \\'hi(di  .lake  said  he  would  give 
to  Mr.  Ilenderson.  All  tlii'se  I  left  open,  as  is 
the  custom  in  an  enemy's  country  when  sending 
Icttci's  under  tlag  of  truce:  while  the  one  to  hither 
was  left  Tinsealeil  that  it  miyht  not  compromise 
him,  and  hecause  I  had  nothing  to  conceal. 

1  was  informe(l  that  I  was  to  he  executed  the 
following  week,  and  T  thought  this  delay  in  exeeu- 
tioji  of  the  sentence  was  owing  to  the  inter[)osition 
of  Mr.  Ilenderson,  as  it  eouhl  not  [lossihlv  he  out 
of  any  I'egard  these  }>eo[tle  had  for  me. 

During  the  following  days  my  heart  was  lighter 
than  it  had  l)een,  though  I  vet  had  seasons  of  de- 
pression and  gloom.  j)uring  these  days  my  time 
was  spent  reading  from  a  little  Testament  which 
was  a  gift  from  father.      In  it  he  had  marked  pas- 


ENE^riES.     YET    FRIENDS.  ill-") 

sages,  and  in  some  plaees  liad  made  marginal  com- 
ments ;  they  were  so  like  my  father's  ntterances 
that  at  times  it  seemed  that  I  conld  almost  feel  his 
presence  Avhen  T  read  them,  and  they  were  a  great 
comfort  to  me. 

At  last  Jake  informed  me  that  the  Richmond 
authorities  had  a[)proved  of  the  findings  of  the 
court-martial,  and  that  a  day  had  been  set  for  my 
execution.  It  was  to  take  place  on  the  following 
Saturday. 

It  was  a  relief  to  know  the  worst.  Suspense  is 
harder  to  hear  than  the  worst  certainty.  Knowing 
the  woi-st,  I  began  preparing  myself  for  tlie  great 
change.  I  prayed  for  strength  to  bear  all  the 
agony  of  my  ignominious  death. 

On  the  morning  of  that  dread  day  I  had  got  from 
my  knees  and  was  sitting  at  my  table  with  the 
little  Testament  in  my  hand,  thinking  of  nij  home, 
when  I  heard  (or  did  I  l)ut  seem  to  hear?)  my 
father's  voice  speaking  as  if  to  an  inner  sense,  sa}-- 
ing  :  "  ]\Iy  dear  son,  your  father  loves  you  —  do 
not  doubt  it  I     I  am  coming." 

I  started  up  and  looked  around  my  room,  ex- 
pecting to  see  him.  There  was  no  one  there  but 
mj'self,  and  all  was  silent.  ]My  imagination  had 
played  me  a  trick. 

I  sat  awhile  thinking  it  over,  when  a  dread 
sound  that  was  no  trick  of  imagination  came 
to  my  ear ;  it  was  the  tramp  of  armed  men  Avho 
came    to   conduct    me    to  the  i^lace  of    m\'  death. 


810  FATHKIl     AGAINST     SOX. 

Tlir\'  halted  licl'oiv  my  [irisdii  door.  I  hoard  the 
coiiiiiiaiid  "Hall  I"  then  tlic  jaii^le  of  Jake's  keys. 
]  rose  I'loiii  tlie  talih'.  alid  as  the  door  »)}ieiie(l  said, 
\\ith  a   strange  eahiiuess,  ■•  C'«)iiie   in.  I  am  ready  I 

As  1  marehed.  kee})iiiL;-  ste])  with  my  guai'ik  it 
was  without  aii\  outwai'd  signs  of  fear  or  iier- 
xousness,  for  I  was  (h'termiiied  that  tliey  shoidd 
see  liow'  hravely  a  liiiou  .sailor  eoiild  die  for  his 
eonntry. 

It  was  as  l)i'antiful  a  morning  as  ever  (kiwned  on 
this  lovelv  Southern  land.  1  looked  at  the  faces 
1  [lassei],  and  ]iote(l  ijie  hate  and  satisfaction  pict- 
ured tln're.  In  my  heart  there  was  a  dee})  (piiet 
or  stoicism.  It  was  m\'  last  da\'  tuider  (-iod's  sun- 
shine (as  1  then  liiaiily  lu'lie\ed),  and  yet  J  could 
not  realize  it.  The  measni'cd  f/'dit/jK  tramps  of  the 
cadenced  step  of  my  guard  hlended  with  thi'  roar 
of  \-oices  and  the  clamor  of  hateful  exclamations 
as  I  neared  the  dreaded  structure  erected  for  my 
execution. 

We  were  halted,  and  I  looked  u}»  at  it  with 
umpdvering  nerve.  I  said  to  myself.  "It  is  part 
(tf  mv  tight  in  this  war  to  show  these  enemies  of 
mv  country  that  there  are  men  who  can  die  for 
it   l)ravely."' 

My  hands  were  tied,  and  as  I  stood,  with  set. 
resolute  face  and  tii'm  nerves,  there  came  to  my  ear 
a  sound  like  the  (damor  of  many  voices  roliing 
nearer,  and  nearer,  and  nearer.     1  had  commended 


ENEMIES,     YET    FRIENDS.  317 

iiiv  8()ul  to  ITis  ineiTV,  and  said  '■'•  Now,"'  a>s  a  signal 
of  my  readiness,  when  there  burst  through  the 
crowd  around  the  gaUows  a  man  on  horseback, 
covered  with  llccks  of  foam  and  gray  with  road 
dust;  he  reined  up,  said  something  I  did  not 
understand,  and  handed  a  paper  to  the  othcer  of 
my  guard. 

Then  my  hands  were  unbound,  the  order  was 
given  to  tlie  guard,  — ''  Shoulder  arms,  forward, 
march  I"  —  and  once  more  I  was  conducted  to  the 
street,  with  the  word  ''  lieprieved  I  Reprieved  I  " 
ringing  out    on  every  side. 

Then,  and  not  until  then,  curious  as  it  ma}' 
seem,  my  limljs  trendjled,  and  my  heart  throbbed 
almost  to  choking,  and  I  should  have  fallen  to  the 
ground  had  I  not  been  mercifully  held  up  by  my 
guards. 

Once  more  I  was  in  the  jail,  and  then  learned 
from  Jake  the  circumstances  of  my  reprieve. 

"•  Squar  Henderson  has  been  t'  Riclimond  'bout 
your  business,"  said  Jake,  "  and  has  got  it  put  off,  I 
reckon.  But  I  say,  it  war  a  right  close  shave, 
youngster,  but  th'  all  saj-  y'  showed  a  powerful  lot 
of  grit  if  y"  are  a  Yank,  an'  it  's  talked  a  right  lot, 
'roun'  yere,  that  y'  've  got  Southern  blood  in  ye." 

I  reflected  that  while  there  were  grounds  for 
hope,  as  there  were  evidently  some  strong  influences 
at  work  in  my  behalf,  still  there  was  hardly  a 
hope  that  the  verdict  of  the  court-martial  would 
be  set  aside  for  a  Yankee   "nigger-stealer,"'  for  it 


818  FATHER    AdAlXST    SOX. 

seemed  to  me  tliat  this  criinc  was  there  eousidered 
the  greatest  a  man  (■(juld  ediiiinit. 

I  think  tlie  days  that  t'iilli)\ved  mv  i'e[)i'ieve  were 
liarder  tn  hear  tluiii  tliose  that  preeeded  tlie  time 
set  i'ttr  my  execution. 

^lattei's  of  life  and  (h'atli  in  tlie  ( 'oiifeth.M'aev 
move(l  (|niekl\'  in  those  times.  I  now  hoped  t(» 
hear  from  my  fatlier.  if  not  from  iii\-  moilier  and 
l*hil,  liefore   the   time    hir  mv  execution   arri\'ed. 

I  was  (|uile  ner\'ous  h»i'  one  of  m\' stolid  tem- 
peramenl,  and  I  fear  that  I  hored  -lake  xcrv  nuu/h 
ahout  so  small  a  matter  as  my  I'ate.  Duihig  this 
time  I  wrote  out  a  cireumstaiuial  account  of  our 
raid  into  Secessionx'ille,  especially  contradicting  the 
ehai'ges  that  I  was  acting  as  a  spy,  also  that  I  had 
in  any  way  insulted  the  wife  of  the  postmaster. 
This   account    1    intended   for   my   father. 

While  intently  alisorhe<l  in  its  composition  late 
one  afternoon,  I  had  pause(l  in  the  occupation  and 
laid  my  head  on  my  arm,  when  once  mori'  1  heard 
my  father's  voice  saying.  "'Good  news,  my  hrave 
hoy  !     (rood  news  I  "' 

The  voice  was  so  distinct  and  so  unmistakahlv 
that  of  my  father  that,  startle(h  1  hxdced  u[),  ex}iect- 
ing  to  see  him  standing  l)efore  me.  I>ut  there  was 
no  one  tliere.  It  was  another  delusion.  When 
Jake  eame  in  I  in([uired  if  any  one  had  heen  near 
my  room  and  he  answered  in  the  negative,  anl 
further  said  that  I  was  the  oidy  prisoner  in  tlie  huild- 
inij',  the  others   having-  heen  given   their  lihertv  on 


EXEMIHS.     VET    ERIENDS.  olO 

condition  that  they  wonld  enlist  in  tlie  Sonthein 
army. 

I  tell  this  incident  as  it  oecuned,  and  do  not 
attempt  to  explain    it. 

One  afternoon  not  long  afterwards  I  broke  the 
seal  of  a  letter  in  a  handwriting  which  I  knew  to 
be  my  fatlier's.  It  was  an  affectionate  letter  in 
which  occnrred  the  very  words  I  had  heard.  My 
father  afterwards  told  me  that  he  liad  nttered  this 
sentence  alond  as  he  wrote  it.  The  letter  itself 
was  so  like  him,  so  unconstrained,  that  it  almost 
seemed  to  bring  me  face  to  face  with  him.  In  it  he 
explained  that  Mr.  Henderson,  having  ascertaiiied 
by  my  letter  to  him  that  he  was  in  Richmond,  had 
been  there  to  see  him  and  get  a  suspension  of  the 
sentence. 

On  the  afternoon  following  the  reception  of  this 
letter  I  was  reading  once  more  from  my  Testament. 
It  was  the  only  book  I  had  to  read,  and  I  had  found 
therein  so  much  comfort  that  I  had  learned  to  love 
its  promises,  and  understand  them  better  than  ever 
before.  I  was  absorbed  in  reflection  on  what  I  had 
read,  and  I  was  so  oblivious  to  my  surroundings 
that  it  was  as  if  I  Avere  in  some  other  world  ;  then 
I  heard  once  more,  distinctly  uttered  by  my  father's 
voice,  "  My  dear,  dear  son  !  "  Fearing  to  break 
the  spell  I  did  not  move,  when  strong  arms  en- 
circled me,  and  I  found  it  was  no  delusion  now, 
but  that  my  own  dear  father  was  with  me  in  reality  ; 
brown,  thin,  and  careworn,  Avith  stern  lines  deeply 


'.\'l{)  lA'i'inai  AdAiNST  soy. 

Avritteii  nil  liis  face.  Imt  still  liis  own  dear  self, 
tlirilliiis4'  me  a\  itli  his  jireseiice  and  liis  earnest  love. 
(xod  liless  liiiii  now  and  forever,  in  the  great  here- 
after in  \\'hieli  he  awaits  iiic  I  After  all  these  years 
I  seem  to  see  his  tender  look  of  lo\'e.  a  love  that 
knew  no  sejiaration  of  time,  space,  or  eonntry. 

The  past  was  all  explaiiKMl.  lie  told  nie  that  he 
had  Iteeii  detaine(l  at  his  home,  when  he  had 
ex}»eeted  to  join  us  at  the  North.  1)\'  llic  sickness 
of  his  father:  that  he  had  written  letters  at  that 
time  which  he  had  learned  only  of  late  had  heen 
intercepted  hy  jealous  partisans  of  the  Post-office 
Department. 

That  \vvy  afternoon  T  was  given  my  lil)erty  l)y 
signing  a  paretic  of  honor,  and  this  A\as  written  liy 
the  verv  official  who  had  acted  as  judge  advocate 
in  the  coiu't  that  had  condemned  me  to  death.  He 
was  verv  wordy  and  o1>se(}uious  to  my  father. 

.\s  we  went  out  fatlier  said :  "  It  is  such  l)ond)- 
proofs  as  that  man.  who  think  to  distinguisli  them- 
selves without  danger,  that  hring  reproach  to  the 
brave  men  of  our  cause."' 

There  were  two  horses  at  the  door,  and  Andrew 
liimself  gave  me  a  hroad  smile  of  greeting  as  I 
[lassed  out  under  the  l)lue  dome  bright  with  God's 
own  sunsliine. 

''  We  missed  Andy  at  Wichnor,"  I  said,  ''  Init 
we  knew  he  Avould  come  to  you  if   he  could."' 

"•Yes,"  said  fathei'.  ''Andy  is  no  fair-weather 
friend  ;  he  goes  wdiere   I   go." 


ENEMIES.     YET    FRIENDS.  321 

We  rode  dcwn  the  street  which  I  had  so  hitely 
trod  as  a  eondeiiined  man,  and  riding  along-  the 
river  road  halted  at  the  very  veranda  u[)on  which 
I  had  carried  the  drip^iing  form  of  Miss  Henderson. 

"  Our  home  is  some  twenty  miles  away,"  said 
father,  '•  and  these  friends  of  mine  have  invited  us 
to  be  their  guests." 

I  was  about  to  explain  that  I  had  Ijeen  there 
under  different  circumstances,  but  father  smiled 
and  said,  ''  I  have  been  told  all  about  it.  Hez,  and 
you  will  want  to  pay  your  respects  to  these  good 
people,  I  knoAv.'' 

I  was  ushered  into  the  house,  was  introduced 
foimally  to  ^Ir.  and  Miss  Henderson,  and,  singular 
to  relate,  I  was  less  self-possessed  during  this  inter- 
view than  I  was  on  my  first  visit  there. 

'*  I  am  sorry,"  said  ]Mr.  Henderson,  "  that  you 
have  suffered  so  much  at  the  hands  of  our  people." 

"That's  the  nature  of  war,"  I  responded,  "and 
possibly  3'our  people  may  think  they  have  suffered 
somewhat  at  my  hands ;  but  there  is  no  mistake,  I 
owe  you  a  debt  of  gratitude  that  I  cannot  easily 
pay,  and  that  I  cannot  express  in  words." 

I  was  presented  to  ^Sliss  Dora  Henderson  by  my 
father ;  she  was  very  kind  in  her  manner  towards 
me. 

"  I  can  understand  your  gallant  conduct,  now 
that  I  know  who  your  father  is,"  she  said,  looking 
up  into  my  face  ;  "  you  have  Southern  blood  in 
your  veins,  and  maw  gracious  !  how  can  a  Southern 


o22  FATIIKR    A<;AIXSr    SON. 

gentlciuaii  li('l[t  l)t'in^'  brave,  L'sp(_^ei;illy  when  liis 
father   is  one  of  tlu-  bravest  in  our  eonnlrv 'Z "" 

^  \  cs,""  s;ii(l  fatlicr  in  baiitcriiiL;'  tniu's.  ••and  niy 
gallantry  was  so  niisundcistiKMl  at  oiif  time  that 
the  gossips  woiihl  lia\f  i!  that  I  was  about  to  inarr\' 
Miss  hora  here:  ami  tlimi  more  serioush- in  a  re- 
mar!:  lo  Miss  Henderson  added:  ••d'liere  is  not 
nnudi  differeiUH'  at  lu-art  between  Southern  and 
Northern  men:  t]ie\'  are  both  brave,  but  in  a  dif- 
ferent way:  tlie  Xortliern  gentleman  is  less  exeit- 
abh'  and  sentimental,  liut  is  more  eiiditi'ing.  and  mv 
son.  I  beliexe.  has  the  good  eliaraeteristies  of  both."* 

••  ( )h.  ""  exelaime(l  Miss  1  )ora  impetuoush'.  *•  there 
are  none  so  l)ra\'e  as  our  dear  Southern  heroes  I "" 
and  she  gave  father  such  an  admiring  look  that  I 
felt  small  ami  chagrined  when  she  continued: 
•'Wh.ii  a  hind  man  our  [)resident  is  I  Who  but 
he  w'ould  have  liberated  a  Yankee  incendiary  like 
your  son '!  " 

'•Miss  Dora  is  grateful  for  yotir  gallant  conduct," 
interrupted  Mr.  Henderson,  ••  if  she  is  just  a  little 
provoking."" 

''Maw  gracious  I  ""  exclaimed  the  young  la<ly. 
••Why  doiTt  you  say  we  stt^)od  by  him  (is  n"t  that 
sailor  talk'/),  and  would  stay  by  him  again  if  they 
hanged  us,  like  real  Southern  hearts?  "' and  there 
Avas  a  mist  in  her  eyes  as  she  added,  "  .Vnd  I  was 
grateftd  to  you,  and  would  have  shown  it  in  the 
same   way,   even  if  you'd  been  a  real  Yankee."" 

"1  beg  pardon  for  saying,""  I  replied,  "  that  I  am 


ENEMIES,     YET    FRIENDS.  823 

a  .staunch  Union  man.  jnst  as  father  is  a,  staniidi 
believer  in  the  cause  of  the  South;  and  I  l)elieve 
we  respect  each  other's  lionest  convictions,  tliough 
we  do  not  understand  v.hy  others  can  see  questions 
from  a  different  standpoint  than  ourselves." 

''It  is  unprofitable  to  discuss  these  differences 
between  friends  —  I  could  n't  even  respect  my 
dear  l)oy  if  I  knew  he  was  fighting  against  his 
convictions,  an}-  more  than  I  could  forgive  myself. 
The  Northern  and  Southern  men  have  honest  dif- 
ferences, and  are  fighting  it  out  like  men.  I  be- 
lieve too,  for  one,  it  is  more  healthy  to  let  out  bad 
blood  than  to  stir  it  up." 

''  What  was  it  about  Jeff  Davis  ?  "  I  said,  to  turn 
the  conversation  in  a  new  channel. 

''  ]Mr.  Davis,"  said  father,  with  emphasis  on  the 
Mister,  ''  God  bless  him  I  granted  me  an  interview, 
and  I  presented  a  letter  from  my  general  commend- 
ing me  to  him.  They  may  say  ^vllat  they  have  a  mind 
to,  but  ]Mr.  Davis  has  a  warm  heart  under  that 
crust  of  ice  ;  for,  when  I  told  him  my  story,  a  tear 
ran  down  his  nose  as  naturally  as  if  the  ice  had 
melted  —  and  when  he  understood  he  couldn't  do 
enough  for  me  ;  said  he  'd  arrange  to  have  you 
especially  paroled  or  exchanged,  and  gave  me  this 
order  to  which  you  are  indebted  for  your  present 
liberty.  Northern  people  misunderstand  him :  he 
is  a  Southern  gentleman,  and  has  all  their  faults 
and  virtues.  I  shall  carry  this  order  to  my  grave 
on  my  breast." 


■j'24:  FATiiiin  A<iAixs'r  soy. 

I  luul  soiiu'  clianuiiiL;'  talks  Avitli  ATiss  Dora,  and 
found  her  very  lovely  in  lit'r  manner,  as  well  as  in 
her  person,  and  that  in  a  way  nuieli  different  from 
our  Xorthei'ii  girls.  There  wassueh  a  fraidc  sweet- 
ness, Idended  willia  heetorin^',  teasino- manner,  that 
it  made  her  [irovokin^iy  eharming. 

\Vhile  I  could  lint  re[)r(»ve  her  seeession  senti- 
ments, we  did   not   let    that  Sjioil  our  friendliness. 

The  next  day  fathei'  and  I  rode  to  the  -lolmstouii 
estate,  and  he  sIiowcmI  me  manv  places  I  ha<l  heai'd 
liim  s[)eak  of,  and  amon^'  them  the  place  where  he 
and  his  hi'other  had  lirst  met  Andy  in  the  swamp. 

''  I  should  like  to  see  I'nele  Ii(.ihert."  T  said:  to 
which  father  replied,  "  Perhaps  3'ou  will  if  lie  is 
alive:  there  are  stran^'e  eneounters  in  this  world, 
and   it   is  so  nari'ow  that  your  tracks  ma\'  cross." 

A  few  days  after  this  I  went  to  Kiehmond  with 
father,  and,  after  a  day's  waitiuL^',  I  took  leave  of 
him  at  Aiken's  l^anding,  Ijelow  that  city,  where  I 
embarkiMl  on  a  tlag'-of-truee  l)oat.  and  was  glad 
once  more  to  he  under  the  })roteeting- shelter  of  the 
flag  that  I  loved  all  the  more  l)ecause  1  had  suffered 
for  it  among'  enemies  and  friends. 


AT   PL YM our II.  32;j 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 


AT  ply:mouth. 


Ox  arriving  within  our  lines  I  Avas  sent  to  the 
parole  camp  at  Annapolis,  where  I  at  once  tele- 
graphed to  mother  of  my  arrival. 

A  paroled  prisoner  is  still  a  prisoner  held  in  trust 
for  the  enemy  until  declared  exchanged  with  the 
consent  of  both  parties.  In  the  parole  camp  there 
was  neither  occupation  nor  excitement  to  keep  me 
from  the  dreary  task  of  self-analysis  and  repining. 
I  was  therefore  but  little  less  rejoiced  at  my  libera- 
tion therefrom  than  I  had  been  to  get  into  the 
Union  lines. 

I  was  declared  exchanged  on  the  twentieth  of 
August,  but  it  was  December  before  I  reported  to 
the  ''  Spitfire "  for  duty.  Here  I  was  heartily 
congratulated  on  ni}-  escape  from  death  and  my 
arrival  within  our  lines.  ''  You  had  a  close  call," 
said  my  young  commander,  when  at  his  request  I 
had  narrated  to  him  my  experiences  in  the  enemy's 
country. 

"■  Yes,  sir,"  I  replied,  "  there  was  a  time  when  I 
did  not  expect  to  be  here  again." 

"  You  could  n't  expect  they  would  be  over-pleased 
at  the  visit  we  paid  them,  and  as  they  could  n't  get 


32()  FATHER    AGAINST    SON. 

]i()l<l  of  all  (tf  us,  tlii'V  uiado  it  rxciting'  for  you. 
I  learned.  ]iowe\-er.  lliat  you  were  trie<l  for  a  spy, 
and  for  iiieitiu^-  servile  insurrection,  and  I  was  pre- 
paring to  make  another  raid  uji  the  ri^'er.  If  they 
liad  lianged  ^du  I  "d  have  hanged  some  of  their 
prominent  citizens  :  I  sent  a  letter  to  them  under 
ilag   of    ti'Uee,    to   that    effect." 

•'Thanks,  lieutenant,"  I  said,  '-hut  T  can't  see 
that  hanging  a  reh  would  liaxc  mended   m\'  neck.*' 

•■  Von  are  hard  to  please."  said  the  lieutenant, 
with  a  lift  to  his  e\-cl)ro\\'s.  '■  It  would  he  a  satis- 
faction to  me,  li\dng  or  dead,  to  get  e\en  with  lUi 
enemy." 

Some  of  my  shipmates  even  ex[)ressed  a  Avisli 
that  they  had  keen  in  my  [)laee,  and  I  ol)liging-ly 
said  that  I  \\'ould  willingly  have  exchanged  jjlaees 
AA'itli  them.  Wlu'U,  howe\er,  I  rememkered  the 
hiee  of  Miss  Dora,  I  doul)ted  if  I  had  keen  en- 
tii'ely   i-andid   with    them. 

IMiil  was  overjoyed  to  see  me  safe  once  more, 
and  I  kelie\e  tlie  dear  fellow  liad  readly  grcnvn 
tliin  in  kis  worrv  o\cr  my  (k'^tention  ky  tlie  enemy. 
1  A\'as  almost  startled  ky  a  resend)lanee,  as  I  fancied, 
or  an  expression  in  kis  face,  tkatwas  like  my  father. 
When  I  said  as  much  to  Pkik  ke  replied:  "Oh, 
nonsense,  Ilez  !  Wv  and  Iw  you  "11  ke  wanting  to 
claim  relati()nski[)  witk  tke  aristocratic   rJurleys." 

"No,"  1  said,  kuigking,  '"I  am  not  anxious, 
and  perka[)s  il  is  a  trick  of  my  imagination  instead 
of    any  real    resend)lanee,    and    I    eould  n't    think 


.17-    PLYMUlJTH.  327 

more  of  yon,  Phil,  if  you  were  a  dozen  times  my 
brother." 

"See  here,"'  said  Phil;  "it's  getting  to  be 
fashioiia1)lc  to  have  Southern  relatives,  and  I  "11 
have  to  scrape  acquaintance  with  the  rebs  and  see 
if  they  ever  hanged  any  of  the  Gurleys,  or  have 
had  any  other  connections  (by  rope  or  otherwise) 
with  our  tribe." 

"  1  would  n't  joke  about  such  connections  by 
rope,  Phil :  it  may  turn  out  that  you  '11  get  some- 
thing more  than  a  running  acquaintance  with  the 
rebs.  I  found  a  pleasant  side  to  them,  ]jut  it 
was  n't  while  I  was  threatened  with  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  their  methods  of  dealing  with 
an  enemy  —  ugh  I  " 

And  the  remembrance  of  the  time  I  stood  under 
a  gallows  sent  an  unpleasant  shiver  down  niy  back. 

Lieutenant  Bell  had  been  given  leave  of  absence 
to  visit  New  York  on  business  of  a  confidential 
character  counected  with  the  navy ;  and  I  did  not 
see  him  again  until  several  montlLS  later,  when  I 
saw  him  under  dramatic  conditions,  an  account  of 
which  will  be  narrated  in  its  proper  place. 

In  January  Phil  and  I  were  ordered  to  report  to 
Lieutenant-commander  Flusher  for  duty,  and  were 
much  excited  at  the  prospect  of  a  change,  as  sailors 
usually  are  at  anything  that  is  likely  to  break  the 
monotony  of  routine  on  shipboard. 

The  steamer  to  winch  Ave  were  transferred 
was,  to  our  chagrin,  the  "  Southfield,"  then  lyiug 


328  FA  Til  Ell    At.AlXSr    SOX. 

()p|Hisit('  tlic  town  of  PlyiuoiUli.  al)ont  ten  miles  up 
llif  Koaiiolvc  Ki\rr.  'I'lu-  ••  Soiitlilirld  ""  was  com- 
iiiaiiili'(|  li\-  a  ^dllllltt:■t■l■  liiMitciiaiit.  and  it  ratistnl 
soiiictliiii;.;'  of  a  fall  to  my  rxprctatioijs  to  discover 
tliat  slic  \\'as  iicitliiT  more  nor  less  than  an  old  ferry- 
l)oat  tittcil  up  witli  })ivot  yuns  and  the  armament 
of  a  L^iudioat.  Anotlicr  ^'unlxiat.  tlie  "Miami,"" 
;i  sidc'-wlieel  steamer,  was  anchored  alongside  the 
'*  Southlield  '"  in  the  ri\"er.  with  tlie  town  on  one  side 
and  an  almost  impenetrahle  swamp  on  the  other. 
Pxilli  \'essels  Were  under  the  command  of  ('om- 
mandei'  1-dusher,  as  line  and  as  ])rave  an  ollleer  as 
there  A\"as  in  tlie  ser\ice.  lie  ^\'as  afterwards  killed 
in  an  attack  of  the  enem\-  on  the  town,  in  the  de- 
fence of  which  we  partici[)ated. 

This  little  Southern  town  \\'as  at  that  time  in 
an  almost  ]'uine(l  condition.  The  enemy  and  ottr 
own  troops  liad  made  attempts  to  hurn  it.  and 
(here  I'eniainefl  only  tw(.)  (_)r  three  Ijrick  huildinys 
used  as  stores,  a  church,  a  few  residences  and  frame 
ImildiiiLi's  used  for  Union  hospitals,  eommissary 
de[iots.  and  onicers"  (puirters.  Besides  these  there 
was  a  medley  of  low  huts  made  of  loys  and  ehinked 
with  nunl :  or  with  roofs  and  sides  made  of  split 
staves.  These  hitildings  were  used  as  quarters  for 
the  "raft""  of  fugitive  negroes  that  came  down  the 
liver  in  search  of  freedom  f I'om  work ;  what  they 
got   \\'as  —  short  rations  and  hard  times  I 

The  town  was  ganisoued  Iw  Wesselhs  Inigade  of 
altout  eighteen  hundred  men,  whose  tents  whitened 


AT  PLYMnrrii.  329 

a!i(l  enlivened  tlie  tdwii  from  up  the  riverat  Wai'ven 
Xeek,  or  Fort  Tlrey,  to  its  outskirts  on  the  sonth, 
where  were  two  re(h)ul)ts,  and  to  the  east  heyond 
Fort  Williams  at  the  eentre  of  the  town.  These 
forts  were  t'onneeted  \^\  earth-Avorks,  with  the 
exeeption  of  I'ort  Grey,  which  was  aecessil)le  only 
hy  a  log  i'oot-hridge  through  a  SAvani}).  or  hy  Ijoat 
on  the  river. 

Among  the  troops  were  one  Connecticut  regi- 
ment and  two  companies  of  native  North  Caro- 
linians, also  artillery  from  ^Massachusetts,  and 
infantry  from  several  other  States. 

We  did  not  get  much  liherty  on  shore,  as  tliat 
privilege  was  almost  exclusively  claimed  hy  our 
superiors. 

The  Connecticut  regiment,  we  had  ascertained, 
was  the  one  in  whicli  our  friend  Jim  I)isl)ee  was  a 
corporal.  We  had  asked  for  a  day  on  shore,  as  we 
were  desirous  of  seeing  liini  and  several  other 
Wichnor  men  helonging  to  the  — th. 

It  was  some  time,  however,  before  Phil  and  I 
got  a  day  for  this  purpose.  We  found  Jim  in  a 
little  stockaded  "•  A ''  tent  all  alone  in  his  glory, 
his  tent-mates  being  on  o-uard  or  engaged  in  other 
duties, 

"  Wal,"  said  Jim,  shaking  hands  at  arms'  length 
in  order  the  better  to  admire  our  bright  uniforms, 
"wal,  this  is  somethin'  t'  brag  abaout ;  't  ain't 
every  day  y'  see  a  man  that's  'scaped  from  tli' 
halter ,  as  y'  might  say.     Y'  see,  I  read  all  abaout 


3:50 


FATIIIUl    A'.A/XST    SoX. 


it  ill  tir  ni'\vs[»a[n'rs.  an"  I  nulit_'r  tliink  y"  "ve  [^ot 
t'lioii^'li  l'  tell  oil   l"  last  y"  a  lil'ctinie." 

Jim  was  vL'vy  [)c'rsisteiit  in  liaviiiQ"  lue  tell  my 
cxprririicc.  and  was  SL't'iiiiiiL;ly  liuiiL;'ry  lor  all  the 
details,  esjiccialh'  \\'liere.  as  he  termed  it.  '"the 
(dose  sha\"e   of  iirar   onto   heiiiL;'  Iiuiil;'  eome   in."" 

•' W^al."  said  .lim.  after  interspi'isiiiL;'  my  story 
with  iiiaiiN'  exrlamatioiis.  ••  v"r  father  1  always  said 
was  a  L;i»od  man  :  if  tlie\' "d  all  hen  like  him  d(jwn 
tliar  there  wdiild  n"t  hen  no  wai',  and  I  eaii  under- 
stand wh\'  a  Southern  man  can't  liiul  it  in  his  L;'izzard 
t"  ti^ht  a^iii  his  Slate.  IJiit  y"r  hil her  "s  that  kind  o" 
man  that  if  he  thinks  a  thiiiL;' 's  ih^ht  from  his  stand- 
[)iiit  he  can  see  it  from  another  ma n's.  Now.  there  "s 
your  L;'raiither  :  he  never  eould  understand  how 
any  one  eould  see  thiiin's  diff'ent  from  what  he 
did.  lie  l»oUL;lit  some  tin  stuff  from  me.  an"  one 
of  the  pans  leaked  like  a  riddle.  Wak  I  liad  tlie 
all-liredest  time  y"  ever  did  see  trvin"  t"  make  liim 
see  "t  wa"n"t  my  fault,  hut  T  eould  n"t  :  he  wanted  a 
uew  milk-[>an  :  snum  if  he  didn"t!  I  told  him  tin 
pans  ware  n't  infallihle  more  "n  eaows.  IK-  said  I 
was  a  eheat.  dumnuMl  if  he  did  n"t  I  an"  him  an"  me 
irionged  t"  the  same  ehureh.  an"  in  yood  stan"iii\ 
tu,  I  swow  ! "" 

'•  But  what  did  cows  have  to  de»  with  it,  Jim?" 
asked  Thil. 

••  Why.""  said  Jim,  with  a  grin.  "  v"  see  one  time 
th"  s([uire  sold  a  caow  t"  m\'  ole  man.  an"  that  ole 
eaow  up  an"  died  "h)re   th"   next   milkin"  :    I  vaow  if 


AT    PLYMOUTH.  ool 

slie  didn't!  Father  ho  goes  t'  th'  squire,  an'  says 
lie,  'I  want  my  money  l)aek,  squire ;  th'  eaow  is 
dead; 

'' "  Wal,"  said  tli"  squire,  '  eows  ain't  infallible,' 
an'  that's  all  tli'  satisfaction  father  could  git; 
plague  if  it  wa'n't  I  " 

Phil  and  I  had  a  good  laugh,  and  Jim  contin- 
ued: "'Y'r  granther  would  n"t  own  up  any  way  "f 
lookin'  at  a  thing  was  right  but  his  own.  Say,  did 
y'  ever  hearn  tell  *l)aout  his  buying  eggs  o"  that 
there  Jot  Williams,  time  I  was  referee?  Didn't? 
Wal,  I  '11  tell  y',"  said  Jim,  picking  his  teeth  with 
a  long  straw  as  lie  turned  his  face  reflectively  down- 
Avard.  "Jot  Williams  druv  daown  to  Wichnor 
with  a  lot  'f  eggs  f'r  sale  —  he  lived  on  th'  Jinks 
place  aout  there.  Y'r  granther  kep'  a  store  in  them 
days  daown  on  Central  ^^•harf,  and  Jot  was  one  of 
his  customers,  an'  a  good  one  tu,  I  guess.  Wal, 
Jot  he  come  in  one  day  with  a  lot  o'  eggs,  an' 
walked  int'  3''r  granther's  store,  an'  sez  he,  '  I  'd 
like  t'  sell  y'  seventeen  dozen  o'  fresh  eggs, 
square.' 

" '  I  don't  want  no  eggs,'  said  y'r  granther 
cross  's  a  settin'  bin,  '  an'  won't  hev  'em  at  any 
price,  nuther.' 

"  Jot  Williams  jes'  sot  down  an'  cleared  his 
throat  in  a  kind  of  a  delil)'rate  way,  an'  thumpin' 
th'  floor  with  th'  butt  eend  'f  his  whip  said,  '  Yis, 
if  du  want  these  e(jgs,  tu^  Mr.  Perkins,  an'  ef  y"  don't 
buy  'em  I  won't  neA'er  come  intu  y'r  store  agin, 


332  FA  mint  AOAiysT  son. 

ail*  y'  know  T  Luy  a  lot  o"  q-oods,  tu.'  Yer  granther 
})iille(l  ill  his  horns  an"  said,  'Jot,  I  don't  want  t' 
lose  a  good  customer  an'  fren*.  an"  I  won't  go  back 
on  \\'liat  I '\c  s(Mk  nnther:  wliat  sliall  ^\•t' dn  'liaout 
it'/"  an'  jis'  then  I  wallvr(l  intn  that  sl(»iv. 

■••Here's  ncigliltor  Janifs  liisliee,  lie  s  a  pootv 
fair  man."  said  Jot,  •  an'  we'll  leave  it  aout  tu 
him." 

'•  •  "(irectl."  said  the  s(jnare. 

"So  they  tohl  me  the  ease,  an"  T  sot  in  jedg- 
mint  on  them  eggs  and  hatched  aout  just  as  good 
a  d'cision   "s  could  he,   I   snum  I 

'•  •  Wal."  I  said,  •y"  say.  S(|uare  Perkins,  that  y' 
won't    he\'   them  eggs  at   no  })riee  ? " 

••  'I'll'  S(|Uare  said  "  Yis.' 

'•'An"  you  say  "f  he  don't  l)uy 'cm.  that  you 
won't  never  come  t'  this  shop  agin  's  long  's  y' 
live  ?  ' 

"  Jot  said,  '  That  's  what  I  said,  an'  I  '11  stand  tu 
it." 

"  Wal,  I  sot  an*  delih'rated,  an'  tin'lly  said  :  'It's 
a  hunily  ease  t'  deal  -with,  neighhors,  1)Ut  here  "s 
my  d'cision:  S(|uare.  you've  g(»t  t'  pay  for  tliem 
eggs,  an'  at  a  good  market  price,  an'  as  y"  say  y" 
won't  hev  'em  at  any  price,  the  court  '11  take  them 
eggs   f'r  its  fee.' 

"  Wal,  yer  granther  was  kinder  grouty  over  that 
d'cision  o'  mine,  but  Jot  Williams  made  him  stan' 
tu  it. 

"  Jot    said    I    was    a    second    Solomon,    l)ut    y'r 


AT    PLYMOUTH.  333 

granther  said  I  was  a  second-class  jackass  ;  siium  if 
he  didn't,  and  that,  tn,  arter  I  'd  pulled  him  aout 
'f  a  bad  hole  ! 

'•  Wal,  3''r  granther  held  a  grudge  'ginst  me ; 
an'  one  day  Avhen  T  went  t'  Wichnor  t'  trade  I 
liitclied  my  hoss  t'  the  hitchin'-post  front  his 
store  an'  Avent  in.  I  had  aout  in  my  wagin  "haout 
as  good  a  lot  of  eggs  as  y'  cummonly  see,  an'  I 
put  'em  in  with  a  lot  o'  oats  in  th'  tail  o'  th' 
wagin. 

"  Yer  granther  'vited  me  t'  th'  stove,  polite  as 
a  basket  o'  chips.  '  Quite  chilly,  Mr.  Bisbee,  f'r 
the  time  of  th'  year,'  sez  he.  '  Take  a  seat  b'  the 
stove  Avhere  its  comfort'ble.'  An'  then  that  critter 
went  aout  an'  hitched  his  hoss,  that  al'a's  lied  his 
nose  in  everythin',  tu  th'  tail  of  my  wagin  —  I 
vaow  tu  man  he  did  !  And  then  he  come  in  an' 
p'lavered  jest  as  sweet  as  maple  sugar.  An'  when 
I  went  aout  t'  my  team,  ther  was  that  pesky  hoss 
a-champin'  up  an'  deoun  'nough  tu  make  yer  cry  — 
th'  dummed  critter  was  jes'  a-goin'  it  in  my  oats 
an'  eggs,  with  yaller  frotli  an'  specks  of  egg-shells 
from  th'  eend  of  his  pesky  nose  tu  th'  tip  of  his 
consarned  ears !  " 

'•'  It  iras  pretty  mean,'*  said  Phil,  holding  on  to 
his  sides  with  laughter. 

"Mean?"  said  Jim,  solemn  as  a  funeral.  ''I 
jest  told  him  thet  a  man  thet  'd  du  that  'd  steal 
corn  from  a  blind  jackass,  dunnned  if  I  did  n't  I 

" '  Or  buy  eggs  f'r  hisself   with  another  man's 


i\\iiii:]i  a<;a/xsj'  sux. 


nioiiev,'  saiil  \"r  ^rantluT.""  Aral  .lini,  relaxing;' 
liis  Li'i'avitw  (Tdsscd  liis  thin  k'L;'s  aliimst  doul)!*' 
and  laiiL;lK'<l  al  the  y>\n\  ihouyli  it  was  against 
liiins(.'lt'. 


From  tlic  time  we  canic  tn  I'lvmimtli.  there  hatl 
liccii  rninitrsdl'  an  iron-chid  that  it  was  said  was 
ahont  to  conic  (hiwn  tlic  ri\'cr.  In  .Marcli  tlicsc 
rumors  midtiiijicih  until  al  last  tlicrc  came  one  of 
our  spies,  with  llic  intelli'gence  that  she  was  ahout 
to  make  an  attack  on  I'Kiiionth  in  eonjiuiction  with 
land  forces  from  the  rehel  capital. 

(reneral  Wesstdls  was  so  wtdl  eonviuceil  tliat 
tliere  was  truth  in  these  I'limoi's  that  lie  called  for 
ri'enforcemeiits.  lie  diil  not  L;'et  tliem.  lor  (reneral 
(iraiit  neede(l  all  the  axailahle  troops  for  the  over- 
land t-am})aiL;ii.  that  was  then  just  ahotit  to  open. 


THE    ADVENT    OF    THE    -ALBEMARLE:'   ooo 


CHAPTER    XXYIII. 

THE    ADVENT    OF    THE    '"ALBEMARLE." 

On  Sunday  the  IStli  of  ^Vpril  there  was  an  un- 
wonted stir  in  the  Uttle  to\^'n,  for  it  was  reported 
tliat  the  enemy  was  advancing  from  the  interior 
on  all  the  roads  to  Plymouth. 

In  the  afternoon  the  enemy  sent  word  of  his 
intention  of  storming  the  town,  and  at  sundown  the 
little  wharf  opposite  the  ''  Southtield  "  was  crowded 
with  non-combatants  \\\\o  were  embarking  on  a 
steamer  for  Roanoke  Island.  That  afternoon  the 
enemy  attacked  Fort  Grey,  a  mile  up  the  river,  and 
this  attack  led  those  of  us  who  were  on  board  to 
infer  that  it  was  to  clear  the  river  for  the  iron-clad. 
Obstructions  had  l)een  sunk  at  a  narrow  part  of  tlie 
river  above  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  pas- 
sage of  such  a  craft,  but  the  spring  freshets  had 
partially  removed  them. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  19th  the  enemy  shelled 
the  place  with  a  storm  of  spherical  case-shot  which 
riddled  the  houses  and  lopped  the  limbs  from  the 
trees  in  the  streets  of  the  little  town.  On  the 
sides  of  the  houses  toward  the  river  were  groups  of 
black  people  who  had  gathered  there  for  protection, 
and  whose  shrieks  and  wails  and  prayers  could  be 


^M  i\[riii:n  AdMXsr  soy. 

heard  alxivc  tlie  uproar  uf  the  Inittle.  Our  1)atteries 
aiiswfi'cd  the  sliots  ot'  the  enemy,  and  tlie  ^'uns  of 
(lur  l)()ats  soon  added  to  the  tuuiult  h\'  throwing 
sh(dl  over  the  town  into  liis  raid^s.  \\dien  id^'lit 
eaiiie  we  eoidd  see  the  Hretlvdike  sparkh."  of  his 
Lj'uns  in  the  lields  on  our  ri^'ht.  where  uinh-r  eo\'er 
of  this  u[)i'oar  he  was  atteniptiii!.;'  to  capture  an 
isolated  re(hiuht.  The  hriiii;'  continued  with  itn- 
ahated  noise  until  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
when    it    died    away. 

Shortly  aftin'  there  came  the  intelligenec  that 
the  ram  was  on  her  wav  down  the  river.  In  [)rep- 
aratioii  h»r  her  coming,  ('ouunander  Flitsher  Jiad 
histened  our  two  xessels  together  with  long  spars, 
while  strong  chains  hung  hetween  them  for  the 
purpose  of  holding  the  ram.  with  the  intention  of 
siidviug  or  Itoarding  lu'r  while  so  held.  We  had 
but  little  doul)t  that  if  we  could  in  this  AN-ay  en- 
tangle the  iron-clad  we  should  [ilace  her  at  a  great 
disadvantage. 

The  "  Soutlitield '"  carried  live  !>-ineh  and  one 
100-pounder  Parrots,  and  one  12-potinder  howitzer, 
while  the  ''Miami"  carried  more  guns  than  our 
ship;  and  although  our  Ijoats  were  of  wood  Ave 
l)elieve(l  they  would  make  the  jtassage  of  the  ram 
diflictilt,  and,  it  was  ho[)ed,  impossil)]e. 

Both  Phil  and  I,  as  the  reader  knows,  had  taken 
part  in  the  fight  Avith  the  "  Mi'rrimack,"  and  did 
not  feel  so  sanguine  as  did  our  gallant  and  fear- 
less ecjunnander.      We  were  not  certain,  however, 


THE   ADVEXT    OF    THE    "ALBEMARLE:'   ooT 

tliat  lilt'  mucli-talke(l-(^f  iron-clad  was  anything 
more  than  a  "  scare." 

It  was  abont  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  when  a 
message  came  from  General  Wessells  that  the  first 
craft  that  came  down  the  river  would  be  the  rebel 
ram. 

It  was  nearly  two  o'clock  when  she  made  her 
appearance.  Then  we  heard  a  gun  tired  from  Fort 
Grey,  and  shortly  after  we  heard  the  lookout  ex- 
claim,   ''  Here    she  comes  ! " 

Through  my  glass  I  saw  a  dark-looking  craft 
with  a  huge  \'olume  of  smoke  pouring  from  her 
smoke-stack,  which  showed  that  she  burned  pitch- 
pine  wood  for  fuel,  and  could  be  nothing  else  than 
the  ram.  She  came  on  without  firing  a  single  shot, 
while  we  steamed  up  the  river  to  meet  lier,  and  to 
entangle  her,  if  possible,  in  our  toils. 

A  water  battery  wnth  a  single  gun  carrying 
200-pound  shot  fired  once  at  the  ram ;  then,  with- 
out replying  to  the  battery,  she  was  upon  us. 
Either  the  Confederates  had  been  warned  of  our 
plan,  or  else  by  accident  avoided  its  consumma- 
tion, for  they  steered  near  the  north  side  of  the 
river,  and  then  by  a  quick  turn  plunged  the  beak 
of  the  ram  into  the  "  Southfield."' 

I  was  standing  by  the  forward  gun  when  this 
took  place,  and  had  just  given  the  signal  for 
firing.  Whether  the  signal  was  obeyed  or  not  I 
do  not  remember  (if  I  ever  knew),  for  the  ship 
began    rapidly    filling    with  water,  and    the  chain 


3:58  F Arm:  11   AuMXsr  sox. 

plates  of  the  ••  ,\.]l)Oiiiarle,""  wliieli  luul  heeonie 
entangled  in  our  iVainework,  carried  her  Ijuws 
down   ^\'ith   ns  as   \ve  sank. 

Amid  the  crush  of  tiiiihers,  tlie  ci'eakiiiL;'  and 
sti'aiiiiiiL;'  of  llie  enlocke(l  ci-afls.  the  gnr^'hn;^' 
A\"aters.  and  the  slnieks,  and  cries,  and  iinisket 
shots,  1  heard  Phihs  voice  crv  out  eh:nu'  and 
peiieti'atiiiL;'    as    we   said^;  : 

'•(iive   thcui  one  more  sliot,  men  I  " 

Then  1  was  caui^lit  in  tlie  Lj'un  ta(dYh'  and  carried 
uiah-r,  in  a  wliirl  of  water,  witli  tlie  sinkini;'  craft. 

It  seemed  an  aL;'e  hefore  I  could  extricate  myself. 
There  was  a  marinL;'  sound  in  mv  liead.  it  seenu'(l 
as  if  my  hrains  would  hurst  from  m\'  skull,  and 
then  I  lost  consciousness,  to  regain  it  as  I  found 
myself  on  the  surface  of  the  water.  T  heard  the 
shar[)  ci'ies,  and  the  crack,  rr((c/,\  crark.  of  nnisketry 
in  the  conliict. 

1  found  that  I  had  come  u[t  Ijetween  the  iron- 
rlad  and  the  "  Southiield,"  and  fearing  to  he 
cruslicdor  otherwise  injured  hetween  them  I  dived, 
and  coming  U[)  heyond  her  on  the  north  side  swam 
h)r  the  swamp.  As  I  reached  the  shore  I  turned 
and  saw  the  "  Miami  "  with  all  steam  on  headed 
down  stream,  followed  hy  tlie  slowei'  "  Albemarle."' 

After  floundering  around  for  a  wdiile,  in  an 
attempt  to  tind  dry  land,  I  determined  to  swim  to 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  where  our  forces 
were.  It  Avas  n't  much  of  a  swim,  l)ut  the  current 
Avas  swift  and  carried  me  down  stream  out  of  my 


THE    ADVEXT    ()E    THE    -ALBEMAHLE:'   839 

CMUirse.  r  succeeded  at  last  in  reaching'  tlie  shore 
l)elow  the  town.  The  water  was  verv  cohl,  and 
I  was  cliilled  to  the  hone  as  I  crept  through  the 
nuid  to  {\\('  S\vani}ty  riAer-l)ank. 

My  knees  ^\•ere  so  weak,  eitlierfrom  being  in  the 
chilly  water  or  from  nerve  strain,  that  I  could 
scarcely  stand.  I  found  myself  on  the  margin  of  a 
narrow  stream,  a  branch  of  the  main  river,  which 
swept  between  me  and  the  town. 

With  this  discovery  I  sat  down  to  debate  with 
myself  what  course  it  was  l)est  to  pursue.  It  was 
fortunate  I  did  so,  for  the  rattle  of  some  tim- 
ber soon  showed  me  that  the  enemy  was  near. 
I  listened  and  then,  not  1)eing-  al)le  to  hear  what  was 
going  on,  crept  toward  the  sound  I  had  heard. 
As  I  did  so  there  was  a  tramp  of  men,  and  coming 
near  to  me  was  a  party  bearing  a  boat  or  scow  on 
their  shoulders  :  these  were  followed  by  others  with 
scows  and  timber. 

I  was  soon  convinced  that  they  were  about  to 
build  a  bridge  across  the  stream  for  the  purpose  of 
reaching  our  left  flank,  which  was  protected  by 
t^^•o  small  redoubts  open  at  the  rear. 

( )n  making  this  discovery,  I  determined  to  reach 
the  town  and  give  information  of  the  sinister 
intentions-  of  the  enemy.  I  retraced  my  steps,  and 
then  taking  to  the  water  reached  the  opposite  side 
without  accident,  picked  my  way  to  firm  land,  and 
hurriedly  walked  to  the  town. 

I  knew  where    General   Wessells'  headquartera 


340  FATHER    AhWIXST    SON, 

were,  and  t(i  tliis  I  stt'ere(l  without  delay.  On 
arriving'  thci-c  I  <lid  not  Hud  even  a  sentry  l)ef()ro 
the  (hjor.  There  was  a  lamp  ImniinL;'  in  the  hall- 
way. I  listened,  hut  lieai<l  not  a  sound.  The 
place  was  a[i[)arenlly  deserted,  (.)r  the  general  and 
all   his  staff   had    gone   to  hed. 

I  was  ahont  to  lea\-e  the  house  \\'hen  I  saw  a. 
g'limniering  of  light  through  the  (U'aek  of  a  do(_)r  at 
the  hii'tlier  eiul  of  the  hall.  I  o})ened  this  door 
and  saw,  at  a  tahle  lighted  hy  a  single  candle,  a 
young  man  in  the  dress  of  a  i)ri\'ate,  with  his  head 
on  his  arms,  hist  asleep.  It  was  the  mess-room 
of  the  generahs  staff,  who  had  evidently  l)een 
disturl)ed  while  at  sup})e'r  hefore  I  arrived.  The 
ta])le  Avas  set  h)r  a  half-dozen  [)eo[)le,  and  was 
still  covered   with  yt'vy  ap[ieti7.ing  h)od. 

liemenihering'  that  one  of  the  maxims  of  a  sailor 
was,  ''Eat  and  sleep  when  you  can,""  I  seated 
myself  at  the  tahle,  and  without  awakening  the 
soldier,  who  I  knew  nuist  he  one  of  the  detailed 
elerks  of  the  general's  oflice.  I  helped  myself  to  the 
food  I  found  there.  The  eoffee  was  still  warm, 
real  cream  near  at  hand,  while  the  chicken  was 
cooked  with  a  skill  uidvuown  to  my  experience 
on  shi})l)oard. 

I  sat  op[)Osite  to  the  slumhering  man,  enjoyirig 
every  mouthful,  using  napkins  to  wipe  away  the 
water  that  dripped  from  my  sleeves,  when  a  dish 
crashed  on  another  aiul  the  soldier  awoke  and 
started  to  his  feet  with  an  exclamation. 


THE    ADVENT    OF    THE    "ALBE^Lin LE."   8il 

''  Sit  down  I  "  I  said,  as  I  helped  myself  to  a 
toothpick.     "  Wiiere's  the  general?" 

The  young  fellow  continued  to  gasp  and  stare 
as  if  he  had  seen  a  ghost,  until  I  repeated  my 
question. 

"  Who  in  thunder  are  you  ?  "  he  exclaimed, ''  and 
what  are  you  doing  here  ?  "' 

"  T  am  Ensign  Johnstone  of  the  '  Southfield,' '"  I 
replied.  "•  I  have  been  eating  a  good  dinner  while 
you  were  asleep  at  your  post."  And  drawing  my 
revolver  with  the  water  running  from  the  muzzle, 
I  exclaimed,  ''  S[)eak,  you  idiot,  or  I  will  blow  your 
brains  out,  if  you  *ve  got  any  in  your  head  I  " 

Under  this  inspiration  he  cried  out : 

"  The  general  is  at  Fort  Williams  :  he  expects  a 
night  attack  at  any  time." 

"  All  right,"  I  said ;  ''  come  on,  we  "11  go  to  Fort 
Williams  ;  lead  the  way  I  " 

The  fort  was  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
away,  in  front  of  the  town,  and  to  this  we  made 
our  way. 

"What  were  you  alarmed  about  when  I  awoke 
you  ?  "  I  said  to  the  soldier. 

"  You  were  as  white  as  a  ghost,"  he  replied, 
"  and  your  eyes  shone  like  a  tiger's,  and  there  was 
mud  on  your  head  and  weeds  in  your  hair ;  and 
you  looked  wild  enough.  I  ain't  afraid  of  anything 
but  spirits,  but  darned  if  I  ain't  afraid  of  them, 
an'  I  thought  you  was   a  ghost." 

I  was  not  very  much  flattered  at  the  description 


342  iwiiiiin  ACAJXsr  son. 

of  my  aii})e;iraiic('  wliicli  he  o'ave,  tliouyii  iio  doulit 
it  was  a  cdrrcct  oin'. 

\\^'  rfacluMl  I-\ir!  Williams,  and  \\lien  it  was 
k'anicd  tliat  I  liad  iiiqiortaiit  iiitormatidn  i'ov  tlie 
L;cm'ra]  the  drawld-id^r  was  K't  ddwii.  and  I  was 
shown  to  tlif  pi-fStMicc  of  tliat  ot'liccr.  I  found  liim 
sijuattin^'  in  an  -"A""  trnt  wliii-li  was  li^'liti'd  with  a 
t-andle,  and  to  liini  I  was  presented  as  an  ol'licer 
from  the  ••  Soutlilield."  The  general  ^laneed  mo 
oxer  with  a  grim  smile  and  said,  *' Where  "s  y(.)ur 
shi[i  ?  " 

'•At  the  liottom  of  the  river,  sir,  and  I've  just 
arrived  from   her." 

The  generaTs  stei'n  faee  took  on  a  sterner  ex[ii'(,'s- 
sion  as  he  said.  ••  WHiat  information  do  y()U  hring?" 

I  told  him  what  I  had  seen  on  the  erecdc,  and 
what    1    liad  heard. 

"  Verv  good."  said  the  general:  •■you  did  well 
in   re})(»rting  this  at   onee." 

He  then  called  an  energetie-looking  otiieer,  and 
to  him  gave  direetions  i'oi'  tlie  eoneentration  of 
troops  at  that  flank.  After  this  he  turned  to  me 
and  said,  ••Ensign,  you  will  tind  some  dry  elothing 
in  that  corner,  and  if  any  of  it  will  lit  you  put  it 
on." 

I  thanketl  him,  and  found  a  pair  of  dark-l)lue 
trousers,  a  pair  of  drawers,  a  shirt,  and  some  eoarse 
stockings;  and  after  putting  them  on  was  more 
comfortal)le. 

'•'- 1  am  afraid  I  am  takinu'  clothes  that  some  of 


THE    ADVEXr    OF    THE    ••ALBEMARU:."   -Wo 

the  rest  of  you  will  miss,"  1  said  to  one  of  the 
stuff  olfieers  who  had  eome  in  as  I  eoni[)leted  the 
change. 

''  That  "s  all  right,"  lie  said  ;  ''  all  we  can  do  in  any 
case  is  to  light  and  keep  conifortal)le  ;  we  've  got  to 
surrender  at  last,  for  we  can't  get  away  or  get  reen- 
forcements  wntli  that  iron-clad  in  the  river." 

'"  You  think  there  is  no  show  for  us,  then,"  [ 
said,  *•  and  that  the  enemy  wdll  gobhle  the  whole 
garrison  ?  " 

''  They  have  a  strong  force,  not  less  than  ten 
thousand  men,  and  our  line  is  long  and  weak.  We 
can't  stand  a  siege  without  provisions  ;  so  it  is  only 
a  question  of  a  short  time  when  we  make  our  final 
surrender." 

I  threw  myself  on  the  bare  ground  and  slept 
soundly  until  1  was  aroused  l)y  a  great  din. 
There  were  prolonged  yells  and  the  sharp  crackle 
of  musketry,  punctuated  with  the  deep  growl  of 
artillery. 

"  What  is  that?"  I  exclaimed. 

"  Sounds  like  an  attack  on  our  left,"  said  an 
artillery  officer. 

The  shrill  yells  of  the  charging  enemy,  the  roar 
of  heavy  guns,  with  the  crackle  of  infantry  firing, 
continued  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  in  the  dim 
light  of  approaching  day,  we  saw  our  soldiers 
falling  back  through  the  town,  fighting  every  step 
as   they  retreated." 

The  enemy  was  in  our  rear. 


344  FATinn;  acmnst  soy. 

Very  soon  men  l)eL;aii  to  roine  from  the  tigiit 
into  tlie  fort,  and  we  knew  that  tlie  enemy  had 
earried   the   town. 

^VmoiiL;'  those  who  came  was  Jim  l)isl)ee,  aeeom- 
panied  1)\-  a  lieutenant  of  artillerv  in  wliom  I  ree- 
o^'nize(l    m\'   old   schoolmate    Uui'ton. 

I  was  i'e(|Uested  to  take  command  of  a  lOO- 
})ound  ^un.  which  was  mounted  on  a  shiii-cari'ian'e, 
and  1  at  once  set  at  Work  chan^'inL;-  the  L;un  so 
tliat  it  ciiuld  ])(■  l)i'oUL;'ht  to  Iiear  on  tla'  town, 
instead  of  the  front,  as  was  tlie  oriL;inal  iidention. 
4diis  was  more  (juickly  accomplished  than  1  thotight 
woldd  he  possil)le. 

While  I  was  dii'ectiuL;-  this  work  I  was  li^'htly 
touched  on  the  shouldei'  hy  an  infantiy  soldier, 
whom  I  r<'coL;iu/.e(l  as  John  Nixon.  He  told  me 
lie  had  joined  the  I'^ii'st  Nortli  Cai'olina  re^'iment 
(sometimes  calleil  the  "  Buffaloes"  ),  and  that  his 
Avife.  \\'ho  had  l)een  with  him  at  Plymouth,  had  left 
on  the  steamer  on  Sunday,  htr  Ifoauoke  Island. 

I  shook  hands  with  him  and  re<{tiested  him  to 
assist  at  the  gttn. 

The  shot  were  now  striking  in  the  fort  from 
every  diivetion,  right,  left,  and  rear,  as  wtdl  as 
front,  and  the  prospects  looked  far  from  eheerful. 
I  eotild  see  the  enemy  constantly  passing  on  a 
street  parallel  to  and  near  the  river. 

When  my  gun  was  shotted  I  ttirned  her  (h^wn  to 
pointd)lank  range,  and  with  a  savage  joy,  which 
only   those    who   are   in  a  tight  place  know,  tired 


THE   ADVENT    OF    THE    '-ALBEMARLE:'   345 

down  the  street  among  the  enemy,  shot  after  sliot 
in  rapid  snccession.  I  was  ghid  to  make  some 
retnrn  for  the  attentions  I  had  been  receiving. 

The  fighting  soon  became  exceedingly  hot. 
The  nnexploded  spherical  case-shot  fired  l)y  the 
enemy  stnck  in  the  logs  which  formed  the  interior 
walls  of  our  breast-heights,  like  plums  in  a  pudding. 
In  addition  to  shot  fired  from  the  enemy's  light 
field-guns,  those  of  the  iron-clad  struck  the  fort 
constantly.  Nor  was  that  the  worst :  the  enemy's 
sharpshooters  were  in  the  houses  and  officers" 
quarters  near  the  fort,  endeavoring  to  pick  off  our 
gunners.  Nearly  every  man  who  stepped  up  to 
adjust  tlie  primer  to  my  100-pound  gun  ^vas  either 
killed  or  wounded. 

In  the  midst  of  the  fight,  I  was  training  the  gun 
to  bear  on  a  group  of  Confederates,  the  glitter  of 
whose  bayonets  could  be  seen  on  the  river  street 
of  which  I  have  already  spoken,  when  Dudley  Bur- 
ton came  up,  and  with  an  important  air  said  : 

"  Can't  you  sight  that  gun  farther  to  the  left?  " 

I  pointed  to  the  tramway  of  the  gun-carriage  and 
then  pulled  the  lanyard.  The  shot  went  bellowing 
down  the  street,  and  Dudley  jumped  to  the  gun- 
carriage  to  see  where  it  would  strike.  In  an 
instant  he  fell  back  wounded  and  bleeding'. 

A  sharpshooter's  bullet  had  struck  his  cheek 
bone,  and  passed  down  out  through  his  lower  jaw. 
The  blood  ran  from  his  mouth  and  I  thought  he 
was  dead,  but  I  had  time  only  to  throw  his  over- 


.'U(J  FATIIl'J;     A(,'\/XST    SON. 

coat  ra})e  over  his  l)lo()(l_v  face  and  go  on  with  my 
(hities,  U)V  in  a  ii^lit  there  is  little  time  for  senti- 
mi'iil  or  ceremony. 

I'^lrven  men  were  hillecl  and  wounded  at  this  "'un, 
ami  c\'eiT  minute  the  sharpshooters  were  making' 
our  places   there  still   moie    nucomfortrthle. 

At  al)out  ten  o'clock  I  ^■ot  orders  to  eease  tiiini;-, 
as  the  general  was  ahout  to  n'o  out  under  a  ILil;' 
of  ti'Uce  to  confer  with  (ieneral  Hoke,  who  eom- 
mandetl  the  enemy's  forces.  They  had  heen  asso- 
ciated together  in  what  the  ( 'oid'ederates  called  the 
M)ld  A  nil}'/  and  it  was  thoug'ht  that  our  general 
might  get  l)ettei-  terms  tlian   any  one  else. 

As  I  had  lost  my  hat  in  the  river,  I  had  taken 
one  from  a  dead  artilL-rist  and  placed  it  on  my 
head.  During  this  temporary  suspension  of  fight 
ing,  I  took  it  off  and  found  that  the  top,  where  it 
was  pinched  together,  had  l)een  almost  shot  away. 

''It's  lucky  you  are  an  inch  too  short  for  the 
slunpshooters,"  said  Nixon,  ''  or  you  'd  he  a  right 
dead  man." 

In  a  few  moments  General  Wessells  returned 
gi'eatly  enraged. 

■'  What  are  you  dodging  for?"  he  exclaimed  to 
one  of  the  men  who  ducked  his  head;  "-they  wont 
hurt  you  I" 

It  was  said  that  the  terms  of  surrender  proposed 
l)y  him  liad  heen  rejected,  and  that  the  old  general 
had  come  into  the  fort  determined  to  tight  as  long 
as  a  man  could  be  brought  to  the  guns. 


THE   ADVENT    OF    THE 

Among  all  ranks  it  was  felt  l)etter  that  we  die 
fighting  than  be  made  prisoners  of  A\ar :  sueh  was 
the  evil  reputation  rebel  prisons  liad  gained  among 
the  Federal  soldiers. 

But  the  situation  on  all  sides  grew  more  and 
more  desperate,  and  at  last,  at  11  o'clock  A.^Nl., 
General  Wessells  reluctantly  surrendered  the  gar- 
rison. 


848 


FATHER    AhAIXST    SOX. 


CHAPTKK  XXIX. 


:x  THE  i:xi:.MV  s  coi-xxny, 


The  tirst  hkiii  wlio  laiiie  over  the  p;ira})et  of 
our  \\'()rks  \\as  a  sli^'lit  lieutenant  aeeonipanied  l»va 
l)urly  and  bearded  ( 'oiit'ederate.  Witliout  mueli 
notice  of  tlie  l-'e(UTal  soldieis  standiuL;'  around  in 
the  fort,  they  hc^'an  at  once  to  ransaelv  for  vahi- 
ahh's  :  and  in  tliis  pursuit  tliey  rip[)ed  open  a 
featht'r  Ix'd  in  the  i^'enei^al's  tent,  in  seareh  of 
L;i'eenl)ai-]-;s. 

I  sai(h  "Tliai  "s  tin'  n'enerahs  tent,  and  is  to  be 
resp(_H-te(L 

They  hotli  tui'ne(|  ilereely  ujion  me  and  pre- 
sented such  a  comical  ap[)earance  that  I  laughed  in 
their  faces.  Tlu^y  had  e\'idcntlv  been  eating'  mo- 
lasses, for  the  feathers  had  adhered  to  their  beards, 
gi\inL;'  them,  to  use  the  mildest  expression,  a 
L;rotes(pie  appearance. 

Tlie  yottng'  oilieer  scowled  at  me  and  said  in  his 
iiercest  tones.  *•*  We  11  soon  show  \"ou  how  A\'e  re- 
s[)eet  you  and  yotir  general! '"  and  then  added  with 
a  sneer  ,  "  Oh,  it 's  yon  again,  is  it  ?  A  renegade 
Xorth  Carolinian  !  You  esca[)e(l  tlie  halter  once, 
but  you  will  be  fortunate  to  get  off  the  second 
time.'' 


IN    THE    EXEMY\S    COLWTRY.  349 

And  witli  this  he  pointed  his  revolver  at  my 
head,  and  I  A'erily  heheve  he  was  al)Out  to  shoot 
me  down  in  eohl  ]»h:)od,  wlien  an  offieer  who  had 
come  up  knocked  av.ay  his  hand,  saying, 

"None  of  that.  Jack;  these  men  are  prisoners 
of  Avar  and  cannot  resent  your  insults.  Let  tliem 
alone  !  " 

''  He  "s  a  renegade  Southerner,"  snarled  the  lieu- 
tenant, wlio  was  the  same  John  Ferold  I  had  seen 
with  Mr.  Henderson  Avhile  I  Avas  attempting  to 
escape  from  SecessiouAulle. 

"  None  of  that,  I  say,"  repeated  the  officer,  and 
F'erold,  as  he  met  the  determined  look  of  his  supe- 
rior, turned  sulkil}'  away. 

"•  You  are  in  a  scrape  again,  I  see,"  said  the  lat- 
ter, and  I  then  recognized  him  as  the  j'oung  lieu- 
tenant-colonel to  Avhom  I  had  surrendered  at 
Secessionville.    • 

"  Sorry  to  see  you  in  l)ad  luck  again,"  lie  said 
pleasantly,  "  hut  it  is  the  fortune  of  Avar." 

Later  Ave  were  marched  out  of  the  fort  between 
two  lines  of  Confederate  soldiers,  avIio  exchanged 
hats  Avith  us  by  grabbing  ours  from  our  heads  and 
substituting  their  own.  One  seized  my  hat  and 
gave  me  his  cloth  home-made  article  in  return.  At 
first  I  Avas  inclined  t(^  throAA"  it  aAA^ay,  but  on  second 
thought  saAV  that  it  Avas  a  more  serviceable  hat  than 
my  OAvn,  and  wished  I  had  a  gray  jacket  to  go  Avitli 
it,  for  I  Avas  determined  not  to  go  to  a  Confederate 
prison  if  I  could  possibly  escape. 


350  FATHER    AaAIXST    SON. 

From  the  t'oi't  we  wi'i'c  inaivlR'd  to  an  oprii  lield, 
as  a.  [)ix'[iaralinii  t'oi'  —  w^'  kn('\\'  imt  what.  In  llie 
Held  wi'i'c  ^atlicred  not  only  soldiers  tliat  had 
l)cen  captni'iMl,  hut  nuMi.  vroincn,  and  children, 
l»lacl:,   yellow,   and   white. 

^■\s  I  stood  IddhinL;'  at  this  niolley  eolleetioii  of 
fellow-jii'isoiiers.  I  M'as  sla[)ped  familiarly  on  (he 
sliouldei;  and  turned  to  resent  it,  when  I  was  eon- 
I'ronted  hy    I'hil  an<l  Jim    Hishee. 

"•IIow  lie  y"?  I  snum  we  "re  all  in  the  same 
box  I  ""  said    l>isl>ee. 

Phil  exteinh'd  his  hand,  and  I  kiiewhy  the  looks 
of  his  faee  that  he  had  heen  nneertain  as  to  my 
fate. 

''  I  am  yiad  to  see  you.  Where  have  yon  l)een  '/ " 
he  exidaimed,  wringiuL;'  mv  han<l.  I  told  liini 
in  hrit'f  my  ex])erienee  since  the  siidvino'  of  the 
'^  Southheld." 

''And  I,"' said  Phil,  '-swam  rii^'ht  to  the  shore 
instead  of  down  stream  after  the  'Miami.'  Put  1 
thoun'ht  you  were  at  the  hottom  of  the  river." 

••  And  I  snum,  here  y"  are  a^'in,  1  mig-ht  say  ri^lit 
'mono'  y*r  Xorth  Sardinians,"  said  Jim.  "Sav,  d" 
ye  think  y'r  father  is  'mony  this  eraoud  o"  toUL;h 
figliters,   Ilez?'' 

"  Xo,"  I  re[)lied,  "and  I  tliank  God  for  that; 
this  is  Hoke's  division  of  North  Carolina  troops  on 
a  little  exeursion  after  Yaid^s,  and  my  father  belongs 
to  another  division  of  the  .Vrmj  of  Xortliern  Yir- 
o-inia." 


IN    THE    enemy's    COUXTRV.  351 

"John  Nixon  is  aronnd  here  somewhere,"'  Tsaid; 
"lie  put  on  the  eoat  and  hat  of  a  dead  artillery-man, 
and  I  don't  want  3'ou  to  forget  that  his  name  now 
is  John  lUirns,  of  the  — d  ^lassachusetts  heavy. 
You  see  these  rel)s  might  mistake  him  for  one  of 
those  '  Buffaloes  '  tliey  are  making  inquiries  about." 

Shortly  Johneame  up  to  our  party,  shook  hands 
with  Phil,  and  added  Jim  Bisljee  to  his  list  of 
Yankee  acquaintances  and  friends. 

That  night  we  slept  in  an  open  field  surrounded 
by  a  guard. 

The  following  afternoon  we  were  plentifully 
rationed  with  Union  hardtack  and  salt  pork,  pre- 
paratory to  a  march  into  tlie  interior  of  the  country 
to —  we  knew  not  where. 

Having  suffered  from  the  want  of  food  while 
within  the  enemy's  lines  during  my  former  experi- 
ence, I  drew  all  the  rations  possible ;  and  as  there 
was  no  great  system  in  its  issue  I  not  only  got  all 
the  hardtack  I  could  stow  away  in  a  liaversack  I 
had  picked  up,  but  I  also  filled  my  pockets  until  they 
bulged  prodigiously.  I  had  told  Phil,  Bisbee,  and 
Nixon  of  my  intention  to  escape,  and  they  also, 
with  the  intention  of  joining  me  in  my  attempt, 
drew  all  the  rations  they  could  carry. 

To  those  who  laughed  at  our  loads  I  said,  "  I  guess 
you  don't  know  how  scarce  provisions  are  in  the 
Confederacy."'  And  to  this  remark  even  one  of  our 
guard  nodded  in  assent. 

Jim  had  what  he  called  a   new-fangled  frying- 


3;)2  FATIIFJl    ACAIXST    SOy. 

pail,  with  a   liaiidlf   that   uiisliippod,  wliicli   lu'   was 
about  to  discard,  but  \vlii(di    I  })i\'vailt'(l   upon  liiin 

to    ]<(_'(_'p. 

Instead  of  eating'  of  oiir  provisions  at  our  first 
sto[)[)ing-[»Iac(',  we  l)ai-L;ain('d  \\itli  the  gtiard  for 
some  "  [loufs,""  and  thus  A\-ere  able  to  keep  our 
stoek   g'oo(h 

It  was  soon  currently  i'e[iorted  that  the  enemy 
would  execute  all  Xortli  ('aroliniau  and  negro 
soldieis.  l^\en  l)efore  lieginning  our  march  Ave 
had  lieard  the  rradc.  i-racl,'  of  iid'antry  liiing,  and  on 
in(iiuring-  of  the  guard  its  pur[iort,  were  told  that 
they  were  shooting  nigger  soldiers  that  had  lied  to 
the  swamps, 

Twice  during  the  lirst  day's  maich  we  were  halted 
and  drawn  u[)  in  single  line  on  each  side  of  the 
road  while  C'onfedei'ate  oilicers  with  citizens  ])assed 
down  the  ranks  t^arefully  scanning  each  face  for 
deserters — as  they  termed  all  natives  who  had 
enlisted  in  the  Union  army.  John  met  their  scru- 
tiny unflinchingly,  and  though  one  of  John's 
neighl)ors  was  among  those  that  made  this  search, 
he  was  not  identified.  At  one  time  an  ofiicer 
stopped  sc|uare  in  front  of  him,  but  his  uniform, 
together  with  his  unconcerned  manner  and  per- 
haps the  fact  that  those  around  him  Avere  Mas- 
sachusetts men,  caused  the  officer  to  pass  on  with- 
out sus})icion. 

At  the  third  halting-place  John  once  more  under- 
went the   ordeal  of    a   similar  proceeding.      They 


IN    THE    JJXEMVS    COLWTRy.  3oo 

identitied  several  so-called  deserters  this  time,  and 
hanged  them  to  tlie  nearest  trees  without  ceremony. 

At  Hamilton  we  were  halted  in  a  grove  to  cook 
our  rations,  and  here  a  large  number  of  the  people 
gathered  to  see  the  captured  Yanks.  ■ 

They  were  quite  jubilant  over  our  capture,  and 
one  of  them  said,  '^  I  reckon  that  we-uns  have  got 
the  hul  Yankee  nation  here." 

Women  and  children  predominated,  though  there 
were  also  a  number  of  elderly  men. 

John  had  a  bladder  of  Scotch  snuff  which  he  had 
picked  up  somewhere,  which  he  declared  was  worth 
more  to  trade  with,  among  the  women  folks,  than 
double  its  weight  in  gold.  He  thouglit  it  would 
not  be  prudent  for  him  to  come  in  contact  with 
the  natives,  as  he  might  Ije  recognized,  and  so  Phil 
and  I  started  out  to  trade  the  snuff.  It  was 
eagerly  taken  by  those  who  had  any  food  for  sale, 
or  bought  by  those  who  had  Confederate  money, 
so  that  we  reaped  quite  a  harvest,  and  yet  had  dis- 
posed of  no  more  than  a  third  of  it.  Nearly  every 
woman  in  the  gathering  carried  a  snuff  stick  (a 
chewed  pine  stick)  which  she  was  anxious  to  clip 
into  our  snuff  to  test  it. 

General  Wessells,  in  surrendering  the  garrison, 
had  obtained  the  concession  for  his  officers  and 
men,  that  their  personal  property  should  be 
respected;  so  we  had  not  been  stripped,  as  was 
often  the  case  under  similar  circumstances,  and  we 
still  had  our  money,  knives,  and  other  valuables. 


354  FATHER    AGAIXSr    SOX. 

We  weiv  watchful  now  inr  ;m  (i[>iH>rturiity  to 
es(.a[)(_' ;  but  John  thought  wv  shduhl  stand  a  better 
chance  when  net  so  near  a  Liri^'e  C'ont'eilerate  post 
like   Plymouth. 

At  Il.niiihou  we  h  111  what  Jim  callnl  ••  a  com- 
mittee of  the  hull  tu  L;it  aout  of  tlie  C'onfederaey," 
and  it  was  aL;'reed  that  we  would  esea[)e  at  the 
hrst  o})[)oi-tunity  tliat  occurred.  Jim.  liowever.  at 
hrst  said,  "  1  lieard  jest  naow  that  we  was  L;-oin'  t' 
l)e  sent  t"  Richmond  t"  he  "xchanged.  I  snuni  I 
don't    want    tu    lose   the   chance."" 

An  ohl  soldier  \\lio  heard  tliis  remark  said, 
"Don't  you  talce  any  stock  in  such  stuff  as  that.  I 
was  a  [)risoner  once  before  this  and  got  fooled  liy 
just  such  rumors.  I'A'cry  time  the  rebs  would  have 
a  slim  guard,  they  "d  l)egin  to  put  up  such  talk  as 
that.      I)on"t}du  lielieve  it."" 

"  I  reckon,""  said  John,  ••  it 's  a  kind  of  a  Yankee 
trick  they  are  try'n'  to  [»lay  to  make  us  easy  to  keep." 

'•  Sho  I  "  said  Jim  :  "y'  don't  say?  Wal,  naow,  I 
M-ould  n't  a  thought  it  of  'em,  by  gum!  I  guess 
1  '11  take  my  chance  t'  inake  tracks,  for  if  some  o' 
these  folks  1  "ve  sold  tinware  tu  should  take  it 
inter  th'r  heads  th't  'cause  it's  worn  a(Uit  thet  I 
cheated  *em,  likes  not  't  would  go  kind  o"  hard 
with  nie." 

At  last,  after  a  long  march,  we  were  halted  at 
Tarljoro',  on  the  Tar  Uiver,  where,  it  was  surmised, 
we  were  to  be  put  on  the  cars  and  sent  down  south 
to  iVudersonville. 


IN    THE    ENEMY'S    COUNTRY.  355 

The  bank  of  the  river  where  we  were  lialted 
was  quite  steep,  and  no  guards  were  placed  near 
the  water.  I  took  out  a  small  l)Ook-ma}i  wliicli  I 
had  in  my  pocket,  and  saw  that  the  Tar  Uiver  ran 
l)y  Little  Washington,  where  a  force  of  our  soldiers 
was  stationed.  In  attempting  to  reach  this  place 
we  had,  however,  to  take  into  account  the  [)Ossi- 
hility  that  tlie  same  force  that  had  captured  Plym- 
outh might  also  capture  it  before  we  could  arrive 
there.  John  thought  this  improbable,  and  gave 
S'ood  reasons  for  it.  So,  after  discussing'  all  the 
proljabilities,  we  determined  to  take  this  route  to 
freedom. 

Along  the  margin  of  the  narrow  stream  on 
which  we  were  halted  was  a  thick  fringe  of  foliage, 
in  which  John  proposed  that  we  conceal  ourselves 
and  remain  until  the  other  prisoners  were  marched 
off;  and  then  when  darkness  came,  we  would  stand 
a  fair  chance  to  get  away. 

One  by  one  we  got  into  this  wooded  river-fringe, 
and  then  worked  our  way  as  far  down  stream  as 
we  safely  could  while  the  party  still  remained 
there.  On  so  doing,  however,  we  found  that  the 
guards  extended  away  down  to  the  river  on  that 
flank  of  the   camp. 

One  by  one,  therefore,  we  silently  distributed 
ourselves  among  the  undergrowth,  with  the  agree- 
ment that  when  darkness  came  we  were  to  meet  (if 
not  captured  meanwhile)  at  a  tall  tree  which  was 
designated. 


356  FA  Tin: i;     u/l/xvy   snx. 

I  found  a  little  ]i(tlli)\v  near  this  tree,  where, 
eoveriuj^'  iiivselt'  with  dead  leaves,  I  lav  d()\\'ii, 
listening-  to  the  clamor  of  the  many  voices  that 
eame  to  me  from  the  eanip,  and  the  river  that 
flowed  by  prattling  of   "^'ankee   waters  beyon(h 

I  must  have  fallen  asleep,  tor  I  knew  nothiiig 
more  until  I  was  awakened  hy  a  hand  on  my 
shoulder.  It  was  Phil,  who  with  John  Nixon  had 
eome   to   meet    me. 

"  We  ean"t  find  Jim."  tliey  said  in  a  whis[)er; 
'"  l)Vit  M'e   will   wait   f(»r  him  awhile." 

'•'  Do  you  know  where  he  was  hid'.''"'  I  asked. 

"■  Ves.  hut  he  is  moved,  and  the  }irisonei'S  and 
their  guard  have  been  gone  an  hour.  We  ought 
to  be  getting  along." 

We  waited  nearly  an  hour,  and  then  not  seeing 
or  hearing  from  Jim  reluetantlv  started  without 
liim.  Phil  said  that  just  as  the  prisoners  were 
marched  away  two  rebel  soldiers  liad  c(Mne  prowl- 
ing along  the  sliore  :  that  one  of  them  had  come  so 
near  him  that  at  one  time  he  thought  that  he  should 
be  discovered;  })erhaps  they  saw  Jim's  long  legs 
sticking  out  somewhere  and  took  him  in." 

It  was  at  first  del)ated  between  us  whether  or 
not  we  had  l)etter  cross  the  river  and  go  down  on 
the  other  side.  We  concluded  that  there  was  not 
enough  advantage  to  l)e  gained  thei'eby  to  pay ; 
we  should  get  wet,  and  our  matches  ^\•ould  become 
useless;  besides,  it  would  take  time. 

We  therefore  be2ran  to  walk  along  the  river  shore 


IN    THE    EXE  MY' S    COUXTRY.  o57 

listening  and  peering  into  the  darkness  with  great 
caution  until  we  had  got  full  a  mile  away  from 
where  Ave  started.  During  this  time  we  had  not 
met  a  single  person.  Feeling  that  now  it  was  safe 
to  [)roeeed  with  less  care,  we  began  to  move  ra})idly 
in  single  lile  down  the  river. 

I  was  in  advance,  when,  getting  out  of  a  path  l)y 
which  we  had  been  moving,  I  stumbled  over  what 
I  thought  to  be  a  log.  I  should  never  have  known 
to  the  contrarj-  if  tlie  supposed  log  hadn't  got  on  to 
a  pair  of  feet,  run,  then  stumbled,  and  rolled  down 
the  steep  bank. 

We  all  rushed  forward,  pounced  on  the  intruder, 
and  while  John  and  Phil  were  tying  Iris  legs  I  held 
liim  by  the  throat  to  keep  him  from  crjdng  out. 

"•  We  must  buck  and  gag  him,'"  I  called  out  to 
my  comrades,  "■  or  he  will  raise  the  town." 

There  came  from  the  captive  a  gurgling  sound, 
when,  thinking  that  he  was  suffering  from  the 
pressure  that  I  had  put  upon  his  windpipe,  I 
loosened  my  grasp,  and  putting  the  cold  muzzle 
of  my  canteen  to  his  head,  said  : 

"  If  you  move  I  '11  blow  your  brains  out  I  and  I 
don't  want  to  kill  you." 

The  snorting  and  twisting  continued  until  I 
thought  he  had  a  fit.  The  reader  can  imagine  my 
astonishment  when  at  last  he  said  with  a  gasp  of 
laughter,  '"'  Now  stop  yer  nonsense  !  I  swow  it 's  too 
all-fired  funny,  Hez  Perkins  !  " 

I    was    angry,   and    exclaimed,  "  T    wish    I    liad 


358  FATHER    An  MX  ST    SON. 

clioked  you  liaidrr,  you  clowu  you!  What  in 
thuiukT  ai'c  you   laUL;■lliu^'  at'/"" 

"  Wal,*"  said  -lini  (  for  it  was  he),  l)et\vet'n  gasps, 
and  still  couvulscd,  •*  I  swow,  it's  "nougli  t"  make  a 
eaow  laf  to  liax'e  any  ouc  tryin"  t"  l)lo\\'  y"r  brains 
aout  \\ith  a  caiUfi'u  ! ""  and  Jim  laughed  still 
harder,  in  his  gi-oaiiiug,  eluudvling.  out-ol'-ltreath 
manner. 

••  \'ou  M'ill  l)ring  the  \\hoh'  eountry  ai'ound  our 
ears,  you  hlunderhuss  ! ""  said  Phil,  who  seemed  as 
mueh  amused  as  Jim,  though  he  tried  to  eoneeal  it. 

But  I  was  unahle  to  see  the  fun,  and  ean't  to 
this  (hiv  when  Phil  sometimes  relates  the  ineident. 

"It  puts  me  in  mind,""  said  John,  "of  the  snig- 
gering of  a  nigger  we  were  going  t"  hang  one 
night  down  t'  our  place. 

''•"What  ar"  y"  lallin"  at,  y"  nigger?'  said  one  of 
our  folks. 

"'And  that  dog-goned  nigger  chuckled  an'  said: 

'"  Why,  massa,  yo"  "mos'  hungyo'  own  nigger;  got 
de  wrong  one,  sah  I "  and  then  that  or'nary  nigger 
chuckled,  and   hawdiawed  right  smart  !  "' 

It  turned  out  that  Jim  had  hdlen  asleep,  and 
when  he  awoke,  thinking  that  we  were  gone,  he 
had  started  off  before  we  did.-  He  had  no  idea 
that  the  [»ersons  who  had  come  upon  him  were  other 
than  rebel  guards  until  I  called  out  to  Phil. 

This  foolish  affair  over,  we  started  on  our  way 
once  more,  and  met  no  other  adventures  that  night. 

When  davlight  came    we    resolved   to    go   into 


IN    THE    ENEMY'S    COrNTliY.  oo9 

hiding  during  the  day  in  a  swamp  near  the  river, 
in  wliich  was  a  thick  growth  of  weeds  and  Ijuslies. 
We  found  a  safe  hiding-place  there,  and  l)efore 
sunrise  kindled  a  fire,  fried  some  bacon  and  boiled 
some  coffee,  of  which  we  each  had  a  small  quantity. 
Then  having  eaten  breakfast  \\e  trampled  out  our 
fire,  for  fear  the  smoke  would  attract  attention,  and 
lay  down  on  the  dry  leaves  we  had  gathered,  and 
warmed  by  the  sunshine  went  to  sleep,  leaving 
only  one  —  John  Nixon  —  on  guard.  We  had  all 
learned  that  to  have  cool  nerves  and  a  clear  head,  a 
man  must  lay  up  a  good  store  of  sleep  for  emer- 
gencies. 


oOO  FATHER    AGAINST    SUN. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

UNDER    TWO    FLA(1S. 

Xo  incident  of  note  oecnired  dnring'  the  day, 
exc-cpt  that  .Inn  (h_'serted  liis  post  ^\■hen  on  gnard 
to  h)ok  at  tlu'  timber  in  the  swaiii]).  and  had  eonie 
hark  in  great  ahirni.  saying  he  had  "seen  an  alli- 
gatoi'  l)ig  enougli  to  swaHer  a   eaow." 

Wlit-n  we  repro\"i'd  hini  for  leaving  liis  station 
as  lookout  he  said  with  })ro\iiking  coolnt'ss,  "I  "11 
eonie  daown  here  an"  make  a  great  spec  cnttin"  that 
tind)er  sometime;  there "s  a  all-lired  lot  o'  money 
in   them  ])ig  trees."" 

As  darkness  came  on  we  once  more  started  on 
our  way.  searching  the  shores  as  we  Avent  for  some 
kind  of  a  hoat  in  which  to  pursue  our  journey  with 
greater  speed  and  safety.  In  this  we  Avere  lunv- 
ever  nnsnccessful ;  for  either  there  were  no  boats 
or  tliev  were  Avell  hidden. 

Thus  it  Avas  we  made  so  little  progress  that  soon 
not  only  were  Ave  ont  of  provisions,  l)ut  also  Ave  be- 
gan to  tliink  that  Ave  had  made  a  mistake  in  sup- 
posing that  AA'e  Avere  on  the  Tar  Ifiver.  It  liad  been 
over  three  days  since  Ave  started,  our  supplies  Avere 
nearly  all  gone,  and  Ave  Avere  compelled  to  take 
some  measures  to  replenish  our  stock  or  giAC  up 
the  attempt  to  get  into  our  lines. 


UNDER     TWO    FLAG'S.  3(31 

I  estimateJ  tliat  ^\•t'  liad  traveled  full  thirty-five 
miles  ;  and,  making-  allowanee  for  the  crookedness 
of  the  river  and  the  necessary  detours  we  had  made, 
that  unless  we  had  made  the  mistake  I  have  men- 
tioned, we  were  not  far  from  thirty  miles  from  our 
lines  at  Little  Washington.  It  seemed  to  us  that 
the  influence  of  a  Union  force  at  even  tliat  distance 
would  be  felt,  and  that  we  might  therefore  presume 
on  a  certain  amount  of  friendliness  towards,  or  fear 
of,  Union  soldiers. 

John  was  the  onl}'  one  of  us  who  did  not  heart- 
ily agree  with  this  view,  and  he  only  by  saying, 
"  You  can't  reckon  on  anything  in  this  dog-goned 
country  since  th'  folks  have  gone  wild,  'xcept  that 
they  '11  do  somethin'  y'  don'  want  'em  to.  When 
people  hev  no  right  view  of  th'r  own  welfare  I 
reckon  they  wont  respect  we-uns." 

It  was  finally  agreed  that  John  should  interview 
the  people  at  the  first  house  we  thereafter  saw 
(providing  it  was  n't  a  big  planter's  estate),  and  not 
only  trade  for  food,  but  also  get  positive  information 
as  to  our  whereabouts,  and  of  the  distance  to  Little 
Washington  ;  or  if  we  were  off  our  course,  to  some 
other  point  inside  of  Yankeedom.  We  soon  saw 
a  house  which  we  knew  to  be  inhabited,  by  the 
smoke  that  came  from  the  chimney.  John  threw 
off  his  coat,  borrowed  a  hat  and  a  canteen  which 
a  reb  had  exchanged  with  Phil,  and  said,  "  If  I 
had  a  gun  I  reckon  I  co'd  pass  fo'  one  o'  Hoke's 
men." 


ol)2  FATIIKR    Ad  A  IX  ST    SON. 

Then.  tM|inpp(Ml  witli  the  snuff  that  was  still  left, 
he  stalled  out  to  trade  and   pros]»eet. 

\\i'  gathered  scxci'al  other  arti(des  from  the 
niend)ers  of  our  }iarly.  such  as  jaek-kinves  and 
conilis.  l)ut  .lohn  \ie\\-e(l  tliese  disdainfully,  and 
said.  '•  I  "11  "low  tlie\'  niav  he  light  go(_)d,  hut  I  re(dv(.n 
this  snulf  "11  go  lietter  with  the  women  lh"t  don't 
eoml)  so  inueh  as  they  snuff.  An'  tlT  '11  he  no  men 
folks  "ee[»t  yon.iig  trash  or  old  tins." 

''It  looks  like  a  eoiisarned  tieklish  joh  t'  me," 
said  Jim  anxiously,  '■•  hut  w'  might  "s  wcdl  he  aout 
o"  hreath  "s  tu  l)e  oiil  o"  fodder,  I  gatess." 

We  waited  [latieiitly  for  what  seemed  to  he  an 
hour,  when  we  saw  .lohn  eoming  hurriedly  l»aek 
\\ith  a  ham  dangling  from  one  hand  and  a  tin  pail 
from  the  other. 

'•What's  the  matter,  John?"  we  inqtiired  in 
chorus.  John  made  no  re[)ly  except  to  pass  the 
liam  to  me  and  the  pail  to  Jim  and  ejaculate, 
"Scoot  t*  th"  swam[>,"  and  with  this  led  tlie  way 
with  such  speed  that  we  had  to  make  our  legs  fly  to 
keep  him  in  sight. 

When  we  were  well  in  the  swamp  we  halted, 
and  Jim,  after  listening,  said,  "If  they  put  dogs 
on  our  track  we  must  git  t'  the  river  right  through 
tir  swamp." 

But  not  a  sound  of  a  dog  was  heard,  and  John 
then  satisfied  our  curiosity. 

"  When  I  got  to  that  house,"  said  John,  "  I 
found  no  one  thar  but  an  oh  woman,  a  yoiing  girl, 


UNDER    TWO    FLAGS.  363 

an'  a  nigger  wench ;  and  they  A\'ai'  powerfnl  cnr'us 
t'  know  whar  T  come  f'ni.  I  said  I  come  rigiit  f"m 
Plymonth  whar  we'd  gol)l)led  a  right  smart  h^t  o' 
Yanks,  and  that  I  'd  got  a  fiirhjngh  t'  see  m'  folks 
that  lived  near  Little  Washin'ton,  an'  thet  I  ^\as 
all  out  of  grul)  fixin's  an"  wanted  t'  buy  some. 
Said  they  had  n't  no  eat  hxin's,  an'  then  ast  me 
what  rigiment  I  b'longed  to. 

"  To  stop  th'r  'quiries  I  begun  to  talk  "l)out  th' 
fight  an'  said  I  'd  got  some  powerfnl  good  snuff 
down  thar  f'r  our  folks  thet  I  war  goin"  t'  see. 
An'  then  I  tuck  out  my  snuff  and  let  her  take  a 
dip.  '  I  *11  *lo\v,'  I  said,  '  I'd  like  to  git  this  snuff  t' 
m'  ol'  woman  an'  maw." 

"  Soon  "s  that  ol'  woman  got  a  dip  o"  my  snuff 
her  eyes  sinned  an' she  said  peart  like,  'Stranger, 
what  d'  y'  want  fo'  that  thar  snuff  ?  ' 

"■ '  I  don't  wan'  t'  sell,'  I  said,  'but  t'  'commodate 
y'  I'll  let  y'  hev'  half  o"vt  f'r  pervisions.' 

" '  What  grul)  fixin's  d'  y'  want  ? '  says  she,  an' 
her  eyes  pulled  at  that  snuff-skin  so  powerful  thet 
I  could  n't  hardly  hold  it. 

"  '  Will  a  ham  do  yo'  any  good  ? ' 

"  '  Yes,  I  reckon,'  I  said. 

"  '  Stewed  chicken  ? ' 

"  'I  reckon,'  I  said  agin. 

" '  Some  pones  o'  corn  bread  ?  ' 

"  '  Pass  'm  along,'  I  said  impatiently,  shaking 
th'  snuff-bladder. 

" '  It 's  a  bargain,'  she  said  with  a  snap  t'r  her 


304  FATHER    Ai.AIXST    SON. 

teeth  like  a  steel  trap  when   it  shets  :  an"  the  ol' 
woman  went  out  an"  brong-ht   in  tlie  fixin's. 

''When  I  started  oif  I  looked  haek.  fo"  I  sns- 
pieioned :  an"  there  w's  the  ol"  \\'onian  goin*  power- 
ful fas"  over  til"  ticlds.  .Vnd  then  I  kneM'"tAvas 
time  fo'  me  to  f^'it  ri^lit  smart  "fore  tliat  ol"  "oman 
"d  }»ut  til"  \\  hok'  country  on  my  ti'aek  after  that 
tliar  stidf."" 

"  Wal,  I  snum  I ""  ejaeulatLMl  Jim.  "I  guess  y' 
showed  good  jedgment  in  lightin"  aout.  Say,  k'  "s 
ha\^e  some  o"  that  jnhinn-cakc  an"  cliickcn  :  mv 
maouth  seems  t"  he  ];ind  o"  waterin"  fr  it.  Wliat 
say  ?  •• 

Though  none  of  us  said  a  word  in  reply,  our 
stomaehs  indorsed  the  suggestion,  and  we  soon 
were  ranged  ai'ound  the  tin  }>ail,  as  ,Iim  said, 
'' di'ivin"  in  the  pickets  on  that  chicken.'" 

John  had  k'arned  that  \\v.  were  about  two  miles 
above  the  town  or  village  of  (Ireenville  on  the 
Tar  River,  and,  as  I  had  thought,  not  over  thirty- 
five  miles  from  Little  Washington. 

We  were,  however,  surrounded  l)y  hostile  people, 
whose  enthusiasm  had  l)een  raised  to  fever  heat 
by  the  news  (that  had  spread  over  the  region  as 
if  l)y  magic)  that  the  Yankee  garrisou  had  l)een 
ca})tured  at  Plymouth.  AVe  did  not  know  that 
Little  Washington  was  still  in  the  possession  of 
our  troops,  but  reasoned  that  there  had  not  been 
time  for  the  enemy  to  capture  it.  It  was  agreed, 
whether  our  reasoning  was   right  or  the  reverse, 


UNDin'.     TWO    FLAGS.  365 

that  we  must  risk  eiideavoring  to  reach  that  [)hiee. 
After  getting  out  of  the  swamp  Ave  made  a  wide 
detour  (though  Greenville  was  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river),  in  order  to  give  the  people  of  that  place 
a  wide  berth.  AVe  traveled  most  of  the  day  and 
succeeding  night,  keeping  our  course  as  best  we 
could. 

During  the  next  day  we  came  upon  some  negroes 
at  work  in  the  woods,  and  from  them  got  several 
pones  of  corn  bread,  and  learned  that  we  were 
a  mile  from  the  river  and  a  right  smart  distance 
below  Greenville.  When  we  offered  them  pay 
they  would  take  nothing,  though  I  was  well  sat- 
isfied that  they  had  given  us  most  of  the  food  they 
had  for  the  day. 

We  were  confident  that  the  l)lack  men  would 
not  betray  us,  for  there  is  a  freemasonry  of  mis- 
fortune among  God's  lowly  ones.  We  struck  out 
due  north  when  we  left  them,  and  then  turned 
back  to  the  river,  which  we  reached  about  sundown. 
We  then  rested  and  ate  a  good  supper,  and  again 
started  down  the  river-bank. 

We  had  not  gone  more  than  two  miles  when 
we  came  upon  an  old  darkey  just  shoving  off  from 
the  shore  in  a  flat-bottomed,  weather-beaten  dory. 
We  opened  negotiations  at  once  to  purchase  the 
craft.  He  finally  agreed  to  sell  it,  with  the  under- 
standing that  if  we  were  captured  by  the  enemy, 
we  were  not  to  tell  them  where  we  got  it.  We 
also  bought  one  of  his  fish-lines  and  a  hook,  tliiuk- 


oCA]  FATIIIJI    AUAIXST    SON. 

ing-  that  Ly  tlic  liclp  of  tlu'so  wo  should  he  ahlo  tt) 
r('})lenish  our  stoclv  of  food  sliouhj  we  he  long 
di'taiiK'il   on  our   joui'iicx'. 

'Idial  iiiglit  we  niaih'  good  use  of  ou.r  time  and 
nuiscles.  and  w  r  judgrd  wlieii  daylight  eaine  tlial 
we  had  made  fidl  Iweiily  miles  since  we  took  to 
tiie    ho;it. 

Willi  the  dawn  we  had  more  need  of  seereey 
tlian  luiri'w  so  we  [)ulle(l  our  little  eraft  into  the 
l)ushes,  in  a  nool\  well  sheltered  from  sight,  and, 
heing  tired  and  sleej)\-,  lirst  estal)lishing  one  of 
our  party  as  guai-(|.  \\(,'  lay  down  and  slept,  only 
awakening  when    it  was  our  turn  to  stand  wateh. 

With  the  night  we  continued  our  voyage,  and 
each  taking  a  turn  at  the  oai's  made  such  [)rogress 
that  we  ex[)ecte(l  to  get  into  Little  \\'ashington  l)e- 
foi'e  morning.  Uut  either  the  tide  set  against  us, 
or  from  some  reason  we  did  not  ituderstand  we 
failed  to  make  the  progress  we  anticipated,  ami  at 
daylight  had  not  reached  that  place. 

We  were  very  anxious,  and  were  dehaliiig  wliether 
or  not  to  lie  by  for  another  day,  when  there  came 
a  shar})  hail  from   the  shore. 

'^  What  l)oat  is  that  ?  " 

"That's  a  landman's  call,"  said  Phil  in  a  low 
tone. 

I  answered  the  call  hy  replying,  ^^  A  scoav  from  np 
the  river," 

''  Come  ashore  with  your  scow,"  was  the  laconic 
order. 


UNDER    TWO    FLAGS.  307 

"I  Yow  we  are  either  lueky  or  in  a  tarnation 
iscrape,'"  said  Jim. 

"That's  what  I  thonght;  Ave  are  inside  the 
Union  lines,"  said  Phil,  taking-  tlie  oars  and  row- 
ing for  the  shore,  wliere  we  saw  a  party  of  men 
gathered. 

The  skiff  grounded  and  I  jumped  ashore  ;  for  I 
had  discovered  that  the  men  wore  the  Union  Ijlue. 
It  Avas  tire  outpost  of  Little  Washington. 

The  first  thing  uttered  Ijy  any  one  of  us  came 
from  Jim  ;  it  was :  "  Say,  fellers,  can't  ye  give  us 
something  nat'ral-like  t'  eat  ?  " 

They  complied  with  Jim's  request  by  conducting 
us  to  their  rendezvous,  where  they  gave  us  plenti- 
fully of  Uncle  Sam's  rations. 

"  I  snum,"  said  Jim,  "  this  is  tu  good  f'r 
anythin'." 

"  Yes,"  said  Phil  teasingiy,  "  you  can  let  yourself 
loose  now,  corporal,  without  danger  of  running  on  to 
a  hunger  snag." 

John  was  as  undemonstrative  as  ever,  only  say- 
ing in  his  sober  manner,  "  I  '11  'Ioav  I  'm  right  glad 
t'  git  hyar." 

When  we  got  into  Little  Washington,  and  it 
was  learned  that  we  had  escaped  after  being 
made  prisoners  at  Plymouth,  we  attracted  much 
attention. 

"  We  have  forgotten  something,  in  our  joy  at  our 
safety,"  said  Phil  soberly. 

"What  is  it?" 


3(18 


FA  Til  i:r  a  a  a  ixs  r  snx. 


"  Wv  liavc  fory-otten  to  tliauk  God  for  tliis  drliver- 
aiiee." 

As  wt'  iv('()n-iii/.c(l  1 1  is  liaixl  in  our  deliverance  T 
felt,  as  Jim  I5isl)ce  said,  ■"  that  we  were  in  '  (iod's 
eomdr\-,"  and  undci-  (iocTs  llan'."" 

We  were  treated  ^\■itll  i;-reat  Icindness  bv  the 
oilicers   at   the   post. 

ThouL^'li  it  was  l)ut  a  few  days  sinee  we  were 
captured,  it  st'enic(I  to  us  as  if  it  liad  l)ecn  moidlis, 
so  crowded  wei'e  tlie  liours  witli  emotions  insepa- 
V[\])\v  from  such  adventures. 

We  told  the  story  of  the  siidciiiL;'  of  our  guid)oat 
and  of  the  capture  of  Plvmouth  to  a  newspa[)er 
correspondent,  and  were  intervie\\ed  Iw  oflieers, 
who  thoun'ht  it  possil)le  that  the  post  was  likely 
to  be  attacked  at  any  day. 


WITH    OCR    FLEET.  3G9 


CHAPTER    XXXL 


WITH    OITR    FLEET. 


The  next  day  Phil  and  I  took  leave  of  Corporal 
Bisbee  and  John  Nixon,  and  went  down  the  river 
to  onr  fleet,  then  lying  at  the  mouth  of  the  Roanoke, 
from  which  the  rebel  ram  "-Albemarle  "'  was  hourly 
expected. 

The  first  craft  sighted  was  the  "  »Strikewell," 
commanded  by  volunteer  Lieutenant  Bell,  who 
received  us  with  almost  affectionate  heartiness, 
and  invited  us  to  dine  with  him,  an  honor  A\'hich 
will  be  best  understood  by  those  conversant  with 
naval  etiquette. 

We  then  learned  that  we  were  thought  to  have 
Ijeen  drowned,  for  thougli  those  captured  at  Plym- 
outh had  been  allowed  to  communicate  with  their 
friends,  and  though  I  had  written  to  my  mother  of 
my  capture,  neither  of  us  had  sent  a  letter  to 
any  one  in  the  fleet,  and  it  was  therefore  thought 
probable  that  we  had  both  gone  down  with  the  un- 
fortunate ''  Southfield."  We  also  learned  that 
some  forty  oflicers  and  sailors  of  our  steamer  had 
been  rescued  by  the  "Miami  "  and  the  other  vessels 
of  the  fleet. 

At  the  table  we  told  the  story  of  our  capture  and 


370  FATHF.R    ACMXST    SOX. 

escape,  and  inentioiied  tlic  liano-ing  (>f  the  North 
Caroliiiians  tliat  had  ])ve\i  caittuivd  there.  T  tohl 
as  a  good  j'ikc  thr  threat  of  tlie  young  lieutenant 
to  liaiig  iiif  as  a  renegade  Southerner,  now  that 
they  had  got   lioM  of  me   the  seeond  time. 

'•  P)Ut  \'ou  are  not  a  Southerner."  said  the  lieu- 
tenant in(]niiingly. 

••  Xo,"  I  rei)lied.  '"It  was  a  mistake.  I  liave 
I'ldatlons   wlio   are.   though.'" 

''I  am  a  Soulherii  man  hy  l)irth.""  said  Lituitenant 
Uell  nursiiigly.  ••  I  luwe  a  nund)er  of  rtdatives  and 
fi'ieiids  in  tlie  ai'iny.  and  though  I  helieve  they 
are  entirtdv  wrong  I  ean  understand  their  wav  of 
looking  at  things.  They  have  greater  i»ride  of  their 
States,  and  also  greater  family  pride,  than  Northern 
men  —  their  likes  and  dislikes  are  mueli  stronger. 
They  are  very  hrave,  and  yet  it  seems  to  me  we 
are  Hghting  as  mueh  to  [)reserve  their  heritage  as 
our  own.  If  I  dill  n"t  1)elieve  so  I  would  take  no 
part   in  a   war  against  tliem."" 

••  I  don't  understand  tliat,"  said  one  of  the  offi- 
cers  of  the  shi[).  ''I  helieve  that  we  are  right  and 
they  are  wrong,  and  I  can't  tmderstantl  how  we  are 
preserving  anything  of  theirs." 

"■  Liberty  is  a  eommon  heritage."  said  the  lieuten- 
ant, '"hut  what  I  mean  is.  that  if  they  succeed  in 
estahlishiug  a  government  of  their  own,  both  North 
and  South  will  eome  under  the  control  of  foreign 
powers.  United  we  are  strong  enough  to  protect 
ourselves  au'ainst  any  nations  that  can  be  brotm-ht 


WITH    OUR    FLEET.  371 

against  us  ;  disunited  l)y  figiiting  against  eacli  other, 
we  shall  finally  lose  a  repu1)lican  form  of  govern- 
ment for  both.  It  is  a  very  sad  war  of  1)r()ther 
against  brother,  and  fatlier  against  son,"  and  the 
captain  looked  thoughtful  and  sombre. 

''  Yes,"  I  replied,  '•'  it  is  hard  to  tight  against 
relatives  and  friends." 

Lieutenant  Bell  passed  over  my  remarks  by 
sajing  to  Phil,  ''  I  have  n't  heard  anything  of  your 
relatives,  Gurley,"  which  I  understood  was  his  way 
))f  saying  that  my  Southern  relatives  could  be  of  no 
possible  interest  to  him. 

"- 1  might  tell  a  long  story,"  said  Phil.  ''  I  have 
good  reasons  for  believing  that  my  mother's  married 
name  was  not  Gurley ;  but  I  know  that  whatever 
my  parentage  I  am  still  myself." 

I  had  flushed,  somewhat  in  anger  I  confess,  at 
Lieutenant  Bell's  manner,  and  perhaps  he  saw  it, 
for  he  said  in  reply  to  Phil's  remark : 

"•  Yes,  after  you  have  stripped  a  man  of  his  arti- 
ficial surroundings  that  sometimes  give  him  impor- 
tance, such  as  wealth,  Ijirth,  or  honors,  you  have 
come  down  to  the  marrow  of  individual  worth. 
The  man  who  has  not  in  some  way  got  this  vicAV 
of  himself  cannot  properly  estimate  his  own  value. 
I  am  a  good  deal  of  a  democrat,  you  see,  —  but  still, 
blood  Avill  tell." 

I  thought  to  myself  that  though  he  might  voice 
the  sentiments  of  democracy  he  was  sometimes 
almost  oiiensively  aristocratic  in  his  manner,  yet  I 


■li'I  FATHER    Aa.MXST    SON: 

could  not  lay  hold  of  aiiylliiiiL;'  in  wlial  lie  had  said 
or  in  liis  niannei'  that  was  tangibly  .snol)bish,  much 
less  personally  offensive. 

We  re[)oi'tt'(l  that  afternoon  to  the  senior  officer 
of  tlie  lleet.  and  at  our  riMpiest.  as  we  knew  its 
ea[i(ain,  were  assi^'ued  to  temporal  \-  dut\'  on  the 
double-endei'  ••  Sassacus."" 

The  })lan  of  the  ( 'onfe(lerates.  after  the  ca[>ture  of 
Plymouth,  was  to  take  Xewl)erni\  and  once  niore 
open  these  inland  waters  to  the  ships  of  l-hii4'land. 
In  this  [)lan  tlu'  iron-(dad  ram  '•  Albemarle  ""  was 
reekone(l  ou  to  co(lperate  with  the  troo})s  under 
(Tcnei'al  Iloke.  'I'wo  days  after  our  arri\'al  here  the 
enemy's  iron-clad  came  down  to  contest  tlie  [)osses- 
sion  of  Albemarle  and  Pamlico  Sounds. 

I  was  assureil  that  had  we  arrived  a  week  ear- 
lier, I  should  have  been  given  command  of  one 
of  the  smaller  craft  of  the  fleet,  but  as  all  disposi- 
tions for  battle  were  now  made,  it  could  not  l)e 
done. 

The  prospect  of  sliarp  work  is  not  an  unwel- 
come one  to  naval  sailors,  since  it  is  not  only  their 
profession  to  fig'ht,  but  is  also  one  of  the  I'oads  they 
must  travel  to  distinguish  themselves  and  gain  })ro- 
motion.  ^len  of  our  race  are  brave  by  nature,  as 
has  1)een  many  times  demonstrated  in  battle  1)y  sea 
and  land.  It  was  often  said,  during  the  war,  that 
personal  courage  was  the  cheapest  thing  we  had. 
In  the  navy  the  officers  who  were  cowardly  soon 
had  a  chance  to  get  out  of  the  profession  and  give 


11777/    Oril    FLEET.  373 

place  to  those  who,  wliiU'  not  seeking  danger,  did 
not  shirk  or  flee  from  it. 

On  the  otli  of  May  the  "  Albemarle "  came 
sbnvly  steaming  down  the  Roanoke  River  to  discuss 
the  question  who  sliould  retain  the  possession  of 
the  sound.  The  stakes  to  1)e  played  for  wcrt' 
large.  If  our  eomljined  fleet  could  destroy  this 
dangerous  craft  we  should  regain  possession  of 
Plymouth,  and  also  [)reserve  the  inland  waters  of 
Pamlico  and  Albemarle  Sounds,  and  all  that  this 
implied. 

The  vessels  waiting  to  prevent  the  ram  from 
getting  into  the  sound  wxn-e  the  '•  ^lattabesett," 
which  was  also  a  double-ender,  the  '"  Miami," 
"  Whitehead,"  "  Ceres,"  "  Commodore  Hall,"  and 
our  own. 

As  soon  as  it  was  reported  to  us  that  the  "Albe- 
marle "  was  coming,  the  whole  fleet  steamed  up  the 
sound  to  give  battle.  We  had  not  gone  far  before 
we  saw  black  volumes  of  pitch-pine  smoke,  which 
told  us  that  she  was  coming.  At  her  approach 
the  vessels  of  our  fleet  opened  fire  on  her  at  com- 
paratively short  range,  to  which  at  first  she  made 
no  reply.  But  as  she  came  near  her  forward  port 
flew  open  —  there  was  a  puff  of  smoke,  a  flash 
and  roar,  and  then  a  shell  struck  the  quarter  of  the 
"  ^Mattabesett,"  cutting  her  rail  and  killing  and 
wounding  (as  we  afterwards  learned)  six  men  at 
her  pivot  gy\i\'  Meanwhile  the  shot  and  shell  of 
our  vessels  were  striking'  the  iron-clad  roof  of  the 


374 


F.  1  riiE/i   .  i  r;A  ixs T  SOX. 


••  A  ll)('iii;i  rlc  ""  ii!i<l  L;l;niciii;_;'  IVom  it  like  so  iiiaiiv 
inarMt's  t'nuii  a  IxKii'd.  Al  lull  head  of  steam  slio 
lieadcd  for  tlic  "  Mattalx'sct t  "  with  the  intention  of 
I'aniiiiiii;^'  lici'.  liiil  tla.'  lilow  was  axoided  l»va  ([uiek 
turn  which  tln'  ichid  crafl.  iiiori/ (diiiiisv,  was  unalile 
to  meet.  \W'  th(Mi  o^xMied  on  her  at  dose  rani^'e 
with  our  fiirmidahlc  niiie-iii(di  L;'uns,  l)ut.  as  Phil 
al  tcrwards  said.  "•It  was  like  throwiuL;'  })eas  at  an 
iron  })ot.""  l-'ortunalely  for  the  smaller  craft,  she 
paid  no  moi'c  attention  to  them  tliaii  a  furious  hull 
docs  to  llics  when  eULj'a^'ed  with  an  o[iponent. 

The  din  and  uproar  of  the  conllict  soon  became 
tremendous.  It  was,  Iidwcnci;  a|i|iarentlv  of  little 
more  use  to  lire  shot  at  the  cnem\'  than  to  sna[) 
one's   tliuml)  ami   liiiy'cr  at   her. 

\\"e  were  al)out  fnui-  liundred  \'ar(ls  from  her 
when  the  caj)tain  of  our  vessel  sent  orders  to  the 
engine-room  to  cram  in  oil  and  cotton  waste,  and 
l)a(d<;  her.  Then  tlie  oi'der  was  given  to  steer  for 
the  iron-(dad  !  With  thi'ottles  wide  ('[)en.  with  the 
hottest  of  lires  under  her  l)oilers,  the  engine  A\'ork- 
ing  the  "pistons  at  a  furious  stroke,  onr  good  shi[) 
shot  forward  with  tremendous  speed  to  ram  the 
relud  craft: 

I  shall  n<»t  forget  the  scene  on  our  decks  if  I 
live  a  thousand  years  !  The  men  grasping  the 
rail  Avith  the  nervous  ])allor  of  sus[)ense  on  their 
faces,  tlie  clanking  of  the  engines,  the  hissing  and 
wash  of  steam  antl  water,  the  slanp  commands ; 
and    then    (^as    we    neared    the    enemy  J)  the    order 


WfTfT    OrR    FLEET.  37o 

caiuo,  ''All  down!"'  and  we  struck  the  '"Albe- 
marle "'  like  a  tliimderljolt  ! 

1  was  sittino-  on  niy  feet  on  tlie  deck  holding'  to 
the  rail,  l)ut  was  thrown  over  and  over  ])y  the  tre- 
mendous shoek.  Our  staneh  eraft  (quivered,  but 
held  fast,  and  as  1  got  to  my  feet,  I  saw  thi'ough 
tlie  smoke  that  the  ram,  though  still  afloat,  had 
heeled  over,  while  our  l^ows  were  toru  away  and 
its  timljers  strained  and  ripped  to  the  water 
line.  I  could  liear  the  click  of  the  engines,  whieh 
seemed  uninjured,  and  not  ten  feet  away  saw  the 
port  of  the  iron-clad  open,  and  a  gun's  crew,  naked 
to  tlie  waist,  red,  perspiring,  and  Ijlackened  Ijy 
powder,  working  like  so  many  demons.  Then 
came  a  blinding  flash  almost  in  m}-  face,  and  the 
shot  tore  and  crashed  through  ns. 

Both  vessels  were  moving.  Our  ragged  l)ows 
were  clinging  to  the  iron-clad,  with  our  own  prow 
so  twisted  that  we  lay  side  by  side  with  our  stern 
to  her  bow^s. 

Another  shot  ripped  through  us,  piercing  the 
overcharged  boilers  of  our  engines.  They  emptied 
themselves  with  a  shriek  like  a  wounded  creature, 
filling  the  forward  deck  with  steam  and  Ijoilino- 
Avater.  Our  ship  lurched  heavily  to  port,  and  then, 
amid  the  screams  of  agony  from  scalded  men  and 
the  fierce  shouts  of  the  contestants,  there  came 
simultaneously  a  terriljle  cry  and  a  command : 
"  The  ship  is  sinking !  Make  ready  to  repel 
boarders  !  "' 


3(0  I'ATIIER    AdAIXST    SOX. 

Our  ('i'tM\'  with  cuihisst's  and  jtistols  spi-anq"  to  the 
l)ul\\;irlxs.  and  a  liaiid-tM-haud  cuiitlict  took  [)lac'e  ; 
but  a  steady  \.\w  iVoiii  i»nr  t(t[)s.  and  a  licrct'  resist- 
ance troiii  dUi'  men  on  (hvl^.  l<c]it  tlie  eiuanv  liaek. 

While  assisting  in  this  diii\^  of  re[icllin^'  the 
enenix'  I  I'cit  a  sliafp  pain  in  iii\'  ri^'lit  si(h'.  and  niv 
h'L^'s  (IouIiUmI  uji  niKh'r  me  as  if  of  pajtef  instead  of 
Ih'sli,  nins(de,  and  hone 

I  liad  hrcn  strncl<  h\-  a  Itullet. 

I  did  not.  lio\\-c\-('r,  lose  consciousiii'ss.  I  heard 
the  shri(d<s.  ^Toans.  tones  of  eoinnian<ls  on  Itoth 
ships   t-vrn    more   distinetlv   than   hefoi'e. 

'riiirteeii  aw  t'nl  nnnutes  passed,  while  the  other 
ships  of  onr  lleet.  as  if  [)araly/.e(l  at  the  scene, 
looked  on.  with  stop[ied  cn^'ines.  ('a[)tain  i'^rench, 
of  the  "  Miami.""  however,  who  had  hecn  h^'htino' 
his  ship  at  (dose  (piartei's.  came  to  the  a>sistance  of 
the  ••Sassacus"'  and  attempted  to  explode  a  torpedo 
under   the   ii'on-(dad. 

Wdiile  the  pi\-ot  guns  were  kept  at  work  almost 
mnz/le  to  muzzle  with  those  of  the  enemy,  we 
drifted  a[iart. 

The  other  sliips  now"  got  into  line  and  iireih  and 
also  made  attem}»ts  to  hefonl  the  prop(dler  of  the 
iron-(dad  with  the  seine:  hut  like  all  other  attem[)ts 
proved  impraetieal)le. 

At  sundown  the  "  .Vlbemarle  "  steamed  up  the 
Eoanoke   River,  never  again  to  ap[)ear  in  battle. 

She  was  ilnally  destroyed  with  a  tor[)edo  by  the 
l)ra^•est  of  the  brave Lieutenant  C'ushing. 


WITH    OUR    FLEET.  377 

It  was  not  until  the  conflict  was  over  that  I 
learned  that  Phil  had  been  badly  scalded  Avhile 
directing  the  guns  on  the  forward  deck  of  our  shi[). 
I  was  told  that,  though  so  badly  injured,  he  had 
for  some  time  refused  to  leave  his  post,  and  even 
then  did  not  until  he  was  forced  to  do  so. 


o7  8  FA  J  11 1  lit    A'.AI  AS  J'    SUN. 


CTTAPTKIJ  XXXIL 

rxDEi;  TiiK  sri;<ii:(tx"s  cai;e. 

Soox  after  bciiiL;'  wouiitled  I  was  carried  to  tlic 
cocjx'jiit.  fruiii  wlicre  I  could  still  hear  the  din  of 
the   li--lit. 

rpoii  examiiiatioii  my  wound  was  found  to  l)c 
caust'd  by  a  hullet  sti'iking'  and  breaking  the  second 
ril),  and  then  jjcissing  ol»li(pU'ly  through  the  right 
side  and  out  just  where  the  elhow  naturally  touches 
the  side  when  [)ressed  down  upon  it. 

IMiihs  injuries  were  still  more  serious,  as  the 
u[)[>er  portion  of  his  body  was  badly  scalded,  and  it 
was  feare(l  that  he  was  injured  internall}'.  The 
surgeon  shook  his  liead  as  if  doulitful  of  any  but 
un])leasant  results,  as  he  cut  away  his  garments  to 
ap[tly  white  lead,  linseed  oil,  and  other  dressing. 
It  nuist  have  been  very  [)aiid'ul,  l>ut  Phil  talked^ 
hiughed,  joked,  and  ciaed  out  only  once  wlien  the 
surgeon  hurt  liira  with  rough  handling. 

When  the  surgeon  l)egan  examining  me  he  did 
not  hurt  mucli,  and  it  is  not  my  nature  to  cry  out 
with  pain.  But  Phil  looked  as  compassionate  as  if 
my  hurt  was  more  desperate  than  Ids  o^^■n. 

"  I  am  not  hurt  half  as  bad  as  you  are,"  I  said, 
"•  and  here  3M3U  are  I'itying  me  just  as  if  your  scald 
was  of  no  consequence." 


UNDER     THE    SUJiOEOYS    CARE.        oiM 

"  AVclI,  old  fellow,"  said  Phil,  -  yon  never  Aell 
out  over  anything-,  hnt  I  .squeal  when  things  go 
against  my  grain."" 

This  Avas  in  part  true,  for  I  was  of  a  more  stolid 
nature  than  he,  and  sueh  people  sonietimes  get 
credit  for  liravery  when  it  is  a  matter  of  tenqiera- 
ment,  rather  than  of  courage.  I  liave  seen  men 
who  were  easily  startled  —  who  jumped  and  cried 
out  nervously  —  and  yet  were  really  more  coura- 
geous than  othei'S  who  were  not  easily  shaken. 

While  the  surgeon  Avas  removing  Pliirs  clothing 
to  apply  the  dressing  he  came  upon  the  locket  of 
Phil's  mother,  which  he  had  always  worn  around 
his  neck. 

"  Take  that  off,*"  he  said  rather  crossly ;  "'■  it  will 
hurt  you." 

Phil  passed  an  uneasy,  restless  night,  and  I  heard 
him  call  out  in  his  sleep  repeatedly,  which  I  thought 
indicated  that  he  Avas  in  great  pain.  I  did  not 
suffer  much,  though  hefore  I  got  through  Avith  that 
bullet  Avound  the  pain  was  enough  for  a  lifetime. 

When  the  snrgeon  A'isited  us  in  the  morning  I 
told  him  hoAV  Phil  had  called  out  in  his  sleep.  He 
shook  his  head  at  this,  and  said,  ''  He  needs  A^ery 
careful  nursing.""  On  reneAAung  portions  of  the 
dressing  lie  came  upon  the  locket  again,  and  Avas 
very  cross  about  it.  "You  must  not  AA'ear  it,"'  he 
said ;  "  it  is  likely  to  chafe  and  hurt  you."" 

Phil  then  lianded  over  tlie  locket  to  me,  saying, 
"Hez,  you  keep  3-our  AA'eather  eye  on  it." 


880 


F.  1 77/ /•; n   At ;a /xs t  sclv. 


Tlii'ii  Uic  (l()('t(»r  L^'avc  Phil  an  opiate,  and  lie  had 
fallen  inti>  a  deep  s\vv\)  nndri'  ils  inlluL'nee,  when 
Lieutenant  licll.  ha\  in^'  heard  of  oiir  injnries,  came 
in  [)a\-  a  \isil    tn  the  ship. 

And  now  I  iiinst  tell  of  an  occurciu/e  which, 
were  it  not  ti'nc.  wonld  seem  like  an  invention. 
IJefoi'e  Lieutenant  Lell  came  I  had  opened  the 
hud-cet  and  was  lookill^•  at  tiie  miniature  of  Phihs 
mothei'.  d'lie  likeness  was  that  of  a  heautiful 
Avomaii,  dressed  in  fanciful  costume.  F  still  had 
the  likeness  in  my  hand  when  the  lieutenant 
came    in. 

'•  How  are  yon  this  morninL;'?'"  he  saith 

I  made  a  motion  towards  Phil  to  indicate  that 
he  was  sleepiiii;'.  He  looked  at  him  earnestly  for 
a   moment,   then   said: 

'' \\^' shan't  distnrl)  him  :  if  I  am  not  mistaken 
he  "s  under  the   inllueiice  of  morphine." 

Li  reply  to  his  in(piiries  I  told  lam  of  Phil's 
hrave  conduct,  and  how  he  had  stuck  to  his  post 
of  (lut}-  after  heinn'  hni't  :  an<l  as  I  spoke  I  laid  the 
locket,  still  o[)en,  on  a  little  table  hy  my  side. 

"What  did  the  doctor  say  alnjiit  his  case?" 
intpiired  the  lieutenant. 

"'He  didn't  say  anything,"  I  replied:  "Ijut  I 
did  n't  like   the  v\'ay  he  shook   his  head." 

""  There  is  not  so  mm-h  in  that,"  said  he,  smiling; 
"  tliese  surgeons  usually  make  the  most  of  a  case, 
so  as  to  get  the  more  credit  for  the  cuie  of  it.  I 
lio})e  that  the  burn  is  not  serious  —  the  hoy  is  such 


UNDER     THE    SURGEOX'S    CARE.        381 

a  l)rave  little  fellow ;  if  he  lives  he  may  l)eeome 
a  credit  to  the   naA'y.*' 

''  Yes,"  I  said, ''  no  braver  sailor  ever  trod  a  deek  ; 
and  see,  this  is  the  pieture  of  his  mother:  she  looks 
high-bred  enough." 

Lieutenant  Bell  took  the  loeket  carelessly  in  his 
hand  and  said,  without  looking  at  it,  ''Yes,  I  under- 
stand ;  tlie  poor  Ijoy  has  no  father  or  mother,  and 
it  is  Avouderful  how" — and  here  he  adjusted  his 
eye-glasses  and  looked  at  the  miniature  in  his  hand. 

T  was  not  prepared  for  the  effect  it  produced. 
He  gave  a  cry ,  turned  pale,  looked  from  me  to 
Phil,  exclaiming,  "  jMerciful  God  !  " 

"What  is  it,  sir?"  T  exclaimed,  almost  jumping 
from  my  bed  with  alarm.  But  the  strong  man  was 
on  his  knees  at  Phil's  bed,  making  inarticulate 
sounds,  and  I  thought  he  had  gone  suddenly 
insane. 

"  Who  did  you  say  this  likeness  was  ?  "  he  asked 
excitedly.     "  How  did  he  come  by  it  ?  " 

I  said : 

"  It  is  Phil's  mother ;  she  died  when  he  was  a 
child,  and  when  the  old  woman  he  lived  with  in 
New  York  died,  he  was  left  ah^ne  and  drifted  to 
Wiclmor.  Why,  what  is  it  about  the  picture  ? 
Did  you  ever  see  her  ?  " 

"  She  was  my  wife  —  and  this  boy  must  be  my 
son  that  I  have  Ijeen  searching  for  for  years,"  he 
replied,  and  he  hung  over  Phil,  his  lips  moving  as 
if  in  silent  thanksgiving  ;  and  by  this  time  I  was 


382 


FA  TTIER    A  G.  I  7.V.'?  7'    Sny. 


as  niueli  excited  as  lie,  and  should  liavc  l)et'ii  still 
more  so  had   T  hiiown  all   the  faets. 

■••  I  will  tell  you  all  ahoiit  it,"  he  said.  "  when  T  am 
ealmer.  and  when  uiy  I)oy  is  out  of  dauber.  Possi- 
lily  there  may  lie  sonu'  mistake  ahout  it  — he  may 
not  l»e  mv  son,  thou^'h  it  seems  ini[»ossil)le  tha.t 
there  should  he  an\-  niistakt-  ahcuU  it,  for  I  re- 
eo^'nize  this  locket  and  likeness  as  one  ihat  ni\' 
wife  ^•a^'e  to  me.  hut  whieli  I  left  with  her  when 
I  went  to  sea  :  l)Ut  I  liax'e  a  du[)lieate  of  it  in 
my  state-room.  It  is  without  (|uestion  the  one  I 
left    with   her." 

''My  hither  always  said,"  T  replied,  -that  Phil 
liad   j4'ood   hlood   in   his   ^•ein.s." 

''The  hest  in  the  South,"  said  the  lieutenant 
pron<llv.  "No  wonder  he  shows  eonrage ;  he 
eonies    from  a   race   of   soldiers.  " 

Mr.  Pell  stepped  out  to  see  the  surgeon.  When 
he  returned  he  said,  "The  surgeon  thinks  there 
will  he  no  harm  in  my  seeing  the  hoy  this  after- 
noon—  that  joyful  excitement  may  })rove  henefi- 
eial  rather  than  injurious  tct  iiim.  I  want  him  niovtMl 
on  l)oard  of  mv  ship,  where  he  will  get  the  best  of 
care." 

''Can't  r  go  too  ?"  I  said.  ''Phil  and  1  have 
alwavs  been  together;  we  have  never  got  hurt  ex- 
cept in  eouiples.  Mother  used  to  say,  when  I  had 
stuhhed  a  toe,  '  (iet  two  rags,  for  Phil  will  l)e  along 
with  a  sore  toe  in  a  minute."  " 

"  God  bless  your  mother  !  "  said  Lieutenant  P>eli. 


UNDER     THE    sril(;Eoy'S    CARE.         383 

"Of  course  you  will  come  to  keep  liiiii  comiJaiiy, 
for  your  own  advantage  as  ^^'ell  as  liis  ;  he  "s  still 
3'our  friend  if  he  is  luy  son." 

There  was  something  in  his  manner  of  saying 
this  that  nettled  me,  and  I  growled  to  myself,  "  I 
guess  the  Johnstones  have  got  as  good  l)h:»()das  aii\' 
Bell  that  ever  rang  its  own  praise." 

''What  are  you  growling  about,  Ilez  ? '"  said 
Phil  drowsily ;  then,  yawning,  said,  ^  I  must  have 
been  asleep." 

"  Your  father  has  been  here  to  see  you,  Phil." 

"  Your  granny  I  "  replied  Phil,  who  seemed  much 
refreshed  by  his  slumber;  and  then  very  seriously 
added : 

"  But,  honor  Ijright,  I  dreanred  of  my  mother, 
though;  she  came,  as  I  thought,  and  brushed  back 
my  hair,  as  I  rememljer  she  used  to  do,  and 
said,  '  ^ly  dear  boy  I "  and  then,  plague  it  I  I  woke 
up.  But  was  n't  it  a  beautiful  dream  ?  Wlieu 
a  fellow  is  down  he  wants  some  one  to  coddle  him 
just  as  marm  and  your  mother  used  to  do.  I  sus- 
pect that  I  'm  a  good  deal  of  a  bal)y  and  not  much 
of  a  man.  But  say,  old  fellow,  how  is  your  venti- 
lator ?  " 

"  My  what,  you  scamp  ?  " 

"•  Bullet  hole,  you  thickdiead  !  "  said  Phil,  laugh- 
ing. 

"That's  all  right;  but  seriously,  Phil, — honor 
bright,  and  no  fooling,  — your  father  has  discovered 
you,  and    when    you    heard    me    growling,  it    was 


8 S 4  F. [11  IE R    ACM XS '1 '    S ON. 

lu'causc  lie  had  liecii  [iatn»iiiziny'  mv.  just  as  if  I 
was   dill.'" 

"Just  liaiid  UK'  my  Lxdcet,  IIi'Z,"  said  Pliil.sniil- 
!Ul;' :  and  tlicu  addril.  "I  l;'uc\ss  yoii  liave  Ix-cii 
drcaiuinn'   too,    Ilez."' 

••  Vcs,"  r  coutinufd.  "and  it  was  tliat  locket  tliat 
did  the  business:  \du  know  leather  al\\'a\"s  thought 
it  nii^'ht.  Vou  don't  seem  to  thiid-;  I  am  in  ear- 
nest, l>ut  your  t'atlier  has  lieeii  here  while  you  were 
asleep.*" 

'"Xonsense  ! ""  ejaculated  Phil. 

"Honest.  Phil!  and  here  he  comes  a^'ain,  I 
i;'uess.""  .Vnd  the  d(u>]'  o[)ene(l  and  I^ieutenant  Pell 
came  in. 

Phil  reached  to  grasp  his  hand,  saving.  "  Glad 
to  see  you.   lieutenant."" 

"  I  "m  glad  to  see  you."  he  re[)lied  with  great 
eni(,)tion  ;   "you  are  looking  Ijetter.  my  dear  hoy." 

Phil  opened'his  eyes  Avith  sur})rise  at  this  demon- 
strative remark,  while  the  lieutenant  continued  as 
lie  sat  down  Iw  Phil's  side,  still  holding  his  hand: 
"  I  "ve  got  something  to  tell  you.  I  think  —  I 
think  —  yes.  I  am  positive  —  that  you  are  my  son. 
At  any  rate,"'  he  said,  pointing  to  the  locket  that 
was  in  Phil's  hand.  "  that  dear  woman  \vas  my 
wife."' 

"  Well,"  said  Phil  excitedly,  "  Imt  that  was  my 
mother.  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  what  Hez 
has  been  telling  me  is  —  is  —  so  ?  " 

The  lieutenant  made  no  other  reply  than  to  fall 


UNnr:i:   the  sriKr eon's  care.      385 

on  his  knees  h\  Phil's  side  and  kiss  Ids  face  as  he 
reverently  exclaimed,  "-  Thank  ({od  I  thank  God  ! 
I  'ni  glad  to  liave  such  a  brave  boy  for  my  son.'" 

"  And  I  am  glad  to  have  a  father  like  you ; 
that  is  —  if  it  is  really  so,"  said  Phil  hesitatingly; 
"  it  seems  too  good  to  be  quite  true,  though." 

And  the  father  sat  holding  his  boy's  hand,  saying- 
little,  but  with  an  exchange  of  feeling  between 
them  none  the  less  deep,  until  Phil  fell  into  a  deep 
natural  sleep. 

Lieutenant  Bell  laid  Phil's  hand  down  gently, 
saying  softly,  '•'■  God  bless  jou,  mj  son  I  "  The 
surgeon  came  in  and  seeing  Phil  asleep  said, 
"  That 's  good,  that 's  the  effect  I  hoped  for  I  " 

The  next  day  Phil  and  I  were  moved  to  the 
"  Strikewell,"  where  Ijetter  air  and  better  attend- 
ance, it  was  thouo-ht,  mio-ht  be  oiven  him.  As  for 
myself,  I  seemed  to  be  of  little  consequence  ex- 
cept as  Phil's  friend. 

Sailors  are  not  reputed  to  be  sentimental,  but 
when  the  romantic  incidents  of  the  meeting 
1)et\veen  father  and  son  were  known  by  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  fleet,  we  were  the  recipients  of  as 
many  indigestible  messes  as  there  were  cooks.  I 
don't  know  why  it  is  that  when  people  feel  kindly 
towards  you  —  when  their  emotions  are  particularly 
excited  in  your  behalf  —  they  proceed  on  the 
principle  that  if  one  is  sick  they  can  best  express 
interest  for  you  by  stuffing  your  stomach  and 
putting   3-ou  in  the  way  of  getting  worse. 


381')  FATHER    A'lAiyST    SON. 

'I'lic  JU'xt  cnriiiiiy  at'lur  tlir  cliaiigc  of  (|nart('rs 
l^liil  sliowfil  a  disposition  to  exult. 

'■  Wliat  do  you  tliiid-;  of  this?  —  tlu'  lieittenant"s 
statc'-i'ooiii.    and    L;'nd>   lo   kill.'"" 

'•'■  I'x'afs  ;iii\-  sloi'v  I  L'N'cr  rt-ad."'  1  said.  ••  this  tind- 
iuL;'  \Miur  dad."" 

"  Vrs,"'  saiil  tlu'  lieutenant,  who  just  then  eanie 
in  and  overheard  my  remarks:  '"and  now  that  yoti 
a'-e  a  little  better.  LMiili]).  1  want  to  tell  }-ou  the 
storN' of  in\'  life.  I  am  not  L;'oinL;-  to  spin  a  lono- 
\arii.  Iiut  tell  it  in  a,  {vw  words,  so  as  not  to  i)nt 
\-on  to  sleep  aL;ain.  my  dear  hoy.""  And  the  lieuten- 
ant looked  at  IMiil  wich  a  soft  li^'ht  in  his  eyes 
that  seemed   to  nu'  vmy  sentimental   for  a  man. 

••  1  was  l)orn,""  he  said.  'Mil  Sontli  Carolina,  not 
two  hundred  miles  from  this  place.  My  father  is 
—  if  alive,  (lod  Idess  him!  —  a  slaveholder,  hut  at 
the  same  time  a  humane  man  who  would  not  do 
injustiee  to  a  servant  oi'  any  one  else.  I>ut  my 
brother  and  myself  were  sent  North  to  he  educated. 
I  was  in  school  in  New  Vork  city  to  he  trained  as 
a  lawyer:  my  brother  in  a  I'onnectietit  college. 
Mv  brother  married  a  Yankee  girl.  My  fatlier 
could  n't  stand  that ;  sent  him  a  check  for  mone}' 
])elonging  t()  him  from  mother,  and  would  have  no 
more  to  ^\o  with  him.  I  ftdl  in  love  with  your 
mother,  Phil,  and  married  her,  and  when  father 
learned  of  this  he  served  nie  as  he  had  my  brother. 
Yottr  mother  was  of  a  good  I'higlish  family,  but 
they  were  impoverished,  and    she  had  become  an 


I'XDER     THE    SJ'RGEOX'S    CARE.         387 

actress.  At  tirst  I  went  on  llie  stage,  and  \\\\\\  uiy 
own  and  my  wife's  wages  we  managed  to  live. 
When  you  were  l)orn  we  named  yon  Philip,  after 
lier  father.  Then  her  health  failed,  and  she  of 
course  could  not  help  support  me  and  herehild  too. 
I,  foreseeing  that  we  should  soon  come  to  want,  left 
her  the  little  money  we  had  and  shipped  as  a  com- 
mon sailor  on  a  voyage  to  China,  giving  her  the 
advance  wages  I  received.  On  arriving  in  China 
I  wrote  to  lier,  l)ut  ne^Tr  heard  from  her  again. 
Xt  the  time  I  started  on  this  voj'age  you  were 
about  two  years  of  age.  On  my  return  from  my 
voyage  I  made  a  thorough  search  for  lier  and  my 
child,  but  could  learn  nothing  of  them.  When  I 
left  you  boys  in  New  York  some  three  years  ago 
it  was  to  resume  the  search,  but  it  Avas  Avithout 
success. 

"  At  the  time  I  shipped  on  the  '  Favorite  '  it  was 
with  the  intention  of  communicating  with  my 
father.  But  at  Newberne  I  learned  that  my  brother 
was  with  him,  and  though  T  loved  them  both  I 
was  too  proud  to  make  any  claim  on  them  for  rec- 
ognition while  little  more  than  a  common  sailor. 
The  name  I  now  sail  under  is  not  the  one  I  am 
entitled  to  by  birth.  It  was  because  of  th(?  pi'cjn- 
dice  of  Southern  people  against  manual  labor  that 
I  did  not  take  my  real  name  when  I  went  to  sea, 
but  took  instead  the  stage  name  I  had  used  when 
I  was  an  actor." 

During  this   narrative    I    had   been  exchanmng' 


388  FATiii:i;  agaixst  sax. 

'^lanvt'S  witli  IMiil  wliidi  were  almost  as  good  means 
of  communication  as  words  would  have  been. 

''What  is  your  real  name,  and  mine?""  said  Pliil. 

"  Johnst(»ne.""  was  the  reply.  ••  (_)ne  of  the 
[)i-oudest   in   the  State   of  North  Carolina!'" 

I  eotild  restrain  myself  no  longer.  ••Phil,""  I 
said,  "•  C'ottsiii  Phil,  I  am  coming  over  to  shake 
liands  with  you,  surgeon  or  iKt  stirgeon.""  and  with 
this  1  got  out  of  hed  and  shook  Pliil  hy  the  hand 
and  then  l)luhl)ered  out  hetween  gasps: 

••Old  fel,  vou  always  were  as  good  as  gold,  and 
I  "ve  loved  you  ever  since  you  [luUed  me  otit  of 
the  Wild  Piver:  hut  })lague  me  if  I  don't  someway 
or  other  cotton  to  you  just  a  little  more,  now  that 
you  are  my  cousin,  than  ever  before." 

••  I  don't  understand  this,""  said  Lietitenant  P)ell 
in  amazement  :  '"and  you  '11  get  cold,  with  nothing 
on  Ijut  your  shirt.  But,  I  say,  explain.  I  don't 
understand  it  I  " 

•'  Well,"  I  re[)lied  somewhat  tartly,  '•my  fatlier's 
name  is  Kufus  Johnstone,  Jr.,  and  if  I  am  not  mis- 
taken, you  are  the  Uncle  Bob  I've  heard  him  tell 
so  nuich  about;  the  same  that  helped  tame  the  Ijoy 
Andy." 

The  scene  that  followed  can  be  imagined  better 
than  told. 

I  had  to  tell  my  uncle  the  story  of  Phil's  com- 
ing to  Vv^ichnor,  and  then  to  our  home,  and  of  my 
father  going  South  and  getting  drawn  into  the 
Southern  side  of  the  rebellion. 


UNB1:R     the    srRGEON\S    CARE.         o80 

"  Of  course  Rufe  had  to  go  with  our  people,"  said 
the  lieuteuaut,  "  but  a  uobler  man  or  boy  never 
breathed  !  " 

When  Uncle  Robert  said  lliis,  I  forgave  him 
from  that  moment  some  of  the  Southern  Johnstone 
airs  he  had  been  puttiug  on. 


300 


FA  TIIER    A  (^A IXS  '1 '    .S  UX. 


CHAVTVAl    XXXIII. 


IN    TIIK    HOSI'ITAL. 


As  tlio  very  wai'ia  \\(';itlii'r  was  a]ij)roacliiiiL;\  it 
was  (leriiu'd  ]}cM  Iiy  llic  siii-L;'f<iii  llial  IMiil  and 
I  slioiild  lie  si'iit  tti  tlic  1)1-1  )i)]\lyii  Xaval  ilospita.l, 
wlicif  wi'  could  lia\c  till'  Itciiflil  of  roolrr  wrallicr, 
and  tlie  most  sl^illl'ul  caiv  and  atlcndaiicc.  I'liil 
had  Ix'cii  ^TowiiiL;'  lictler  v\rr  since  lie  was  cou- 
\c\tMl  to  tlic  ••  Sti'il<cwcd/"  wliilr  my  wound  was 
licaliuL;-  i'a}iid]\',  and  I  should  havi'  l>ecn  modcr.itelv 
c'(^)iit('ut('d  but  for  the  torturt'  of  liaviu^;"  tlic  wound 
reamed  out  witli  caustic  at  every  notion  of  the  old 
doctor. 

In  -June  we  arrive(l  at  Brooklyn  and  were  duly 
installe*]  in  comfortahle  (quarters  at  the  hos[)ital. 
Here,  after  a  few  days,  mother  and  ^'randhither 
came  to  see  us.  (irandfather  —  wonderful  to  relate 
—  had  a  uewsuit  of  clothes,  and  \\'hile  in  Brooklyn 
ex[)ended  several  dollars  in  ice-cream  and  other 
luxui'ies  for  Phil  and  me;  or  at  least,  whatever 
grandfather's  intentions  were,  Phil  got  his  share. 
1  had  already  informed  my  mother,  in  a  long  letter, 
of  our  relationship,  and  the  incident  hy  which  it 
was  discovered,  and  hence  they  were  prepared  to 
o-reet  Phil  as  a  rehiti\e.     Thouo-h  mother  said  she 


IN    THE    HOSPITAL.  301 

could  Tiut  lia\e  likrd  liini  any  better  than  she 
always  had,  if  he  had  been  twice  over  related, 
I  conld  observe  in  her  manner,  as  well  as  in  grand- 
father's, more  deference  to  the  son  of  Robert  John- 
stone than  to  plain  Phil  Gurley.  This  is  saying 
nothing  to  their  discredit,  for  they  were  simply 
human. 

Grandfather  was  aging  very  fast,  and  \\'ith  age 
came  a  certain  softening  of  many  of  his  harsher 
traits.  It  was,  as  mother  said,  quite  pitiful  to  see 
how  childishly  fond  of  me  he  had  grown.  One 
trait,  recently  developed,  my  mother  considered 
still  more  alarming.  This  was  liberality  in  the 
use  of  money.  At  a  fair  held  in  Wichnor  for 
the  Christian  Commission,  lie  had,  so  my  mother 
told  me,  given  so  freely  that  it  was  the  talk  of 
the  town  that  he  was  losing  his  mind.  And 
mother  looked  so  alarmed  as  slie  told  me  this 
that  I  was  inclined  to  laugh.  Phil  slyly  said  to 
me  he  guessed  Squire  Perkins  had  had  an  enlarge- 
ment of  the  heart. 

Once,  when  grandfather  had  insisted  on  an  ex- 
penditure for  me  that  seemed  to  mother  needless, 
for  she  was  very  frugal.  Grandfather  Perkins  said : 

"  Well,  Rose,  money  is  well  in  its  way,  but  since 
I  have  seen  men  and  l)oys  like  these  two  sacrificing 
comfort  and  everything  else  for  this  country,  I  've 
made  up  my  mind  to  be  more  liberal  with  money. 
I  see  now  that  I  've  made  a  mistake  in  life  in  re- 
garding it  as  the  principal  thing  to  be  considered, 


002  FATHER    AaAIXSr    SOX. 

and  T  am  sorry  now  T  liavc  n't  n'ivcn  more  fi-eely 
to  you  and  Kurns.  Perlia[is  I  liavc  niadu  a  mistake 
in  considcrinL;-  nione_v  ot  too  L^'rcat  value.  .\ny- 
wav,  I  "\('  lieen  scarry  that  I  was  not  more  lil)eral 
to  Kufus  and  lc('})t  iiini  witli  ns.  lie  used  to  sav 
money  should  he  our  servant,  and  not  onr  master, 
and  I  *m  not  sure  hut  that  I  "ve  sometimes  let  it 
he  m\'  mastei-."" 

This  was  such  an  unusual  admission  for  i^'rand- 
father.  wln)m  I  'd  never  hidoi'e  known  to  adnnt  that 
he  could  he  wroiiL;'  in  anytliing'.  that  I  heeame  almost 
as  miu'h  alarmed  as  mother.  Pliil  looked  over  to 
me  and  whistlc(l  such  a  prolonged  whistle  when 
gi'a  111  Ha  tiler  went  out  that  mother  mildly  reproved 
him  hy  saying,  '•  I'hilip,  you  are  getting-  w(dl  too 
fast  h>r  your  good  manners!"  And  then  to  me 
she  said.  "  Your  fatlu'r's  way  of  looking  at  money 
came  from  his  never  knowing  the  want  of  it  when 
he  was  a  hoy,  while  your  gnuidfather  had  to  work 
and  struggle  for  every  cent  he  got.  The  true 
view  may  l)e  hetween  the  two  extremes.*' 

During  the  sununer  mother  came  to  Brooklyn 
quite  often,  and  grandfather  sometimes  accompa- 
nied her,  and  at  one  time  he  stayed  a  week  longer 
than  she  did. 

It  was  a  happy  day  when,  during  th.e  latter  part 
of  August,  we  were  allowed  hy  the  naval  author- 
ities to  go  home  tt)  Wichnor  on  a  sixty  days'  fur- 
lough. 

When  we   arrived   at   llivermouth,  we  took  pas- 


IN    THE    HOSPITAL.  39o 

sage  up  the  river  for  Wiclinor  on  one  of  the  excur- 
sion steamers  that  ply  between  the  two  phiees. 
On  its  decks  were  a  number  of  Wichnor  peopU^ 
whom  we  knew;  they  treated  us  with  great  friend- 
liness. It  seemed  like  a  family  party  ratlier  than 
an  accidental  gathering. 

"  This  seems  a  reality  and  the  past  a  dream,*' 
said  Phil,  looking  off  on  the  beautiful  banks  of  the 
river. 

I  understood  why  these  familiar  scenes  had  raised 
a  train  of  memories.  I  thouglit,  too,  of  the  time 
when  he  had  first  come  to  Wichnor  and  to  our 
home ;  and  I  asked  myself  the  cjuestion,  Was  it 
accident,  or  was  it  by  the  direction  of  a  higher 
power,  that  he  was  brought  there  and  finally  to 
Ins  own  father? 

''  (xod  has  been  in  our  lives,"  said  Phil  rever- 
ently, ''  and  has  saved  us  from  many  perils,  to  see 
this  dear  old  to^\^l  again." 

I  made  no  reply,  for  there  was  a  mist  in  my  eyes 
and  a  choking  in  my  throat. 

Mother  and  grandfather  were  at  the  wharf  to  re- 
ceive us,  and  we  noticed  with  surprise  that  the  fam- 
ily carriage  had  a  new  coat  of  paint  and  varnish. 

Among  those  who  were  on  the  wharf  was  Jim 
Bisbee,  who  was  home  on  a  veteran  furlough. 

Grandfather  invited  him  to  take  dinner  with  us 
the  next  day,  and  Jim  was  full  of  reminiscences  of 
our  fight  at  Plymouth  and  our  subsequent  escape. 

"  I  snum,"  said  Jim,  after  l>eing  helped  to  the 


894  FA  111  Ell     ACAIXSI'    SOX. 

second  pii-cc  (il'pic,  "'lliis  is  sdiiic  Ix'ttrr  "ii  a-traips- 
ill"  tliioiiuli  the  swaiii])  —  saw  iiaow.  ain't  it  ?  TlaTt- 
was  til  (tr  llii'cc  times  wjieii  I  could  n't  tell  whicli 
was  my  stomacli  an<l  whicli  was  in\'  lia(  Ic.  tliev  ^\■as 
so  diimmed  iii^li  t'^fther  :  and  no  oiu'  "zacklv 
knows  liow  '_;do(l  tliinL;'s  taste  till  tlie\-  '\'e  lieeii 
"tlioiit  "em.  1  "11  never  _L;r<>\\'l  liaout  m"  L;rul»  aij;'"in 
as  lonL;'  as  1  ]i\-e.  What  is  throwd  awa\-  in  this 
taown  would  stand  a  soldier  in  !_;-ood  stead  on  a. 
Ioul;'   march."" 

'•  \'es.  if  lie  could  n't  Lj'et-  anytliinu'  l)elter,"  said 
Phil  with  a  winic  across  the  talile  to  me. 

"''J'liis  wai',""  said  L;'ra ml  father,  "  has  a  tendency 
to  show  us  that  there  ai'e  some  \'alues  more  pre- 
cious  than   silver  and   n'old."" 

'*(Jood  L;-i'aci(_)Us.  yis  I  ""  said  .lim,  wiid<ing' slyly  to 
nie  ;  •' ]  "m  investing'  in  L;'ovi'r"]neiit  honds  m"self, 
S(piare.  1  sold  th"  Thompson  place  t"  other  day  an* 
put  every  cent  on 't  in  th"  stuff:  f"r  if  this  gover'- 
ment  htists  I  don"t  care  what  hajipens,  an"  if  it 
don't  hust  I  think  it  "s  a  s[)ec  wtith  somthin"  while.*" 

•'  Yes.""  assented  gi'andfather,  *'  when  a  man 
weighs  himself  and  his  interests  alongside  of  his 
country's  existence  he  "s  a  mean  skuid-:.  Ilez,  1  "ve 
ptit  ten  thousand  dollars  in  go\'ernnient  Ijonds  in 
Witdiuor  l)e[)osit  Society  for  you  ;  you  can  l)egin 
ti-sing  it  when  you  like  :  hut  "'  —  and  here  he  hesi- 
tated—  ''I  "d  advise  you  to  hold  on  to  it  kind  of 
close;  h»r  it  "s  much  easier  to  get  clear  of  money 
tluui  to  kee[)  it."' 


IN     TlFE    HOSPITAL.  395 

My  niothei'  Ueamod  wlicii  lie  added  :  ■■'  And,  IIcz, 
all  I 've  got  belongs  to  you  and  your  mother ;  my 
will  is  made  l)y  Law3-er  Cute,  good  and  strong."' 

The  days  passed  rapidly  and  our  furlough  soon 
expired.  It  was  now  time  for  us  to  report  at  the 
hospital  again.  We  met  the  young  people  of  our 
age  at  social  gatherings,  to  which  we  were  invited, 
and  Phil  lost  his  heart  to  one  of  Wichnor's  fair 
daughters,  —  and  there  are  none  fairer  in  the  laml, 
—  but  I  could  not  banish  from  memory  the  face  of 
one  of  the  loveliest  girls  of  the  South. 

Amid  pleasures  we  were  brought  to  a  realization 
that  the  bitter  as  well  as  the  sweet  must  be  drank 
from  the  cup  of  life. 

We  were  at  the  supper-table  just  on  the  eve  of 
our  departure  for  Brooklyn,  when  a  telegram  was 
handed  to  me.      It  read  as  folloAVS : 

Old  Point  Comfort,  Va.,  Jan.  18,  1865. 
Ensign  H.  Johnstone  : 

Your  father  wounded  and  a  prisoner  on  board  of 
transport  bound  for  Fort  Columbus,  New  York  Har- 
bor.    He  wants  to  see  you  and  your  mother. 

Robert  Bell,  U.S.jS". 

We  took  the  boat  for  New  York  that  night  and 
arrived  there  the  next  morning.  Here  we  ol)- 
tained  leave  from  the  commandant  to  visit  the  old 
fort,  and  found  that  the  transport  with  father  on 


896  FATii]:n  against  son. 

l»()ar<l  li;i(l  l)Ut  just  arrived.  Tlie  oflicor  in  charge 
A\as  \vr\  kind  Id  un.  lie  condiictod  us  to  a  sunny 
coriU'r  A\lu're  lay  my  dear  fatliL'i',  tiiin.  pale,  and 
desperately  ^\■()unded.  He  had  received  a  wound 
ill  the  defence  of  Fort  Fisher,  whert^  he  fell  into 
the   hands   of  our   forces. 

He  e\'teiide(I  his  liands  to  mother  and  to  nie.  and 
there  \\-ere  tears  (_)n  his  dear  face  as  he  said,  in 
I'eply  to  our  ipiestions  as   to  his   wound  : 

•"Never  mind  the  hurt:  it  is  worth  it  all  to  see 
you,   niv  dear  ones,   ouce   more."" 

I  withdrew,  that  he  and  mother  might  be  alone 
together. 

When  I  went  to  him  again  T  found  him  calm 
and.  if  his   I'ace   was   the   index.   ha[H)y. 

He  said  to  me,  "irez.  it  seems  a  luxury  to  he 
here,  wounded  and  all,  after  heing  a  soldier  so 
long.  They  are  as  good  to  me  as  if  I  were  a 
guest." 

Tlien  his  fai'e  lit  n[i  with  a  stern  liglit  as  he 
said,  ''  AVe  lost  the  fort,  but  we  made  a  glorious 
figlit !  ^^ 

While  we  Avere  s})eaking  Andy  eamc  in,  greeted 
me  respeetfully,  and  then  went  straight  to  the  bed 
of  his  master  and  friend. 

"Andy  always  manages  to  keep  up  with  the 
proeession,"  said  father;  "  if  it  had  not  been  for  the 
boy  I  don't  know  what  I  should  have  done  some- 
times." 

My  mother  got  a  boarding-place  in  the  city  so 


TX    771 E    HOSPITAL.  397 

that  she  coukl  spend  ;i  part  of  each  day  with 
father.  We  soon  knew,  what  he  had  known  from 
the  first,  that  Iiis  wi^nnd  was  mortal. 

Tlie  second  day  of  onr  coming  tlie  surgeon  sent 
for  us  hastily.  As  we  went  into  the  room  father 
extended  a  hand  to  each  of  us,  and  with  a  brave 
smile  said,  ''  I  am  on  ni}-  last  march.  Rose ;  "  and 
then,  as  tears  choked  our  utterance,  continued: 
"•  Don't  feel  bad  over  it,  my  dears.  Think  how 
merciful  He  lias  been  to  bring  us  together  again  I 
And  the  other  wonderful  things  He  has  done  for  us 
all !     I  would  n't  have  it  different  if  I  could." 

I  could  well  believe  him,  for  there  was  on  his 
face  a  look  of  peace  which  I  cannot  describe. 

"  Rufus,"  my  mother  said,  "  we  have  never  been 
enemies,  and  have  always  thought  of  you  with  love 
in  our  hearts." 

"■  I  know  it,  my  dear,  and  I  have  never  doubted  it," 
he  said.  "  I  love  my  native  South,  and  when  she  en- 
tered into  this  fight,  that  has  proved  so  terrible  for 
her,  I  should  have  been  less  than  a  man  not  to  have 
cast  my  lot  with  my  own  people.  I  have  been 
faithful  unto  death.  I  could  do  no  less  than  I  have 
done,  and  you,  my  son,  could  do  no  less  for  the 
Xorth.  I  loved  the  North  too.  I  never  had  an  im- 
pulse of  hate  against  it  in  all  my  battles.  But  the 
war  had  to  be." 

"  We  love  you,"  I  said,  "  if  the  whole  world 
hates  you." 

My  father  pressed  my  hand,  and  a  smile  so  ten- 


o 0 8  FA  7  11  Ell    A<;AI XS 7 '    ,S' OX. 

(It-r  and  Ixsmtifnl  came  to  liis  dear  faee  that  it  did 
not  seem  (if   eartli. 

After  a  munient  nf  slleiiee  lie  said.  "'  IJe  L^'ood  to 
Andv  :  lie  has  heen  a  l;'(mm1  >ei'vant  and  friend  to 
]ne."" 

^\.nd  then,  shoi'tly  aftei',  he  heeame  delirious,  lie 
seeme(l  to  inia^'ine  himstdf  at  the  head  of  his  men 
in  battle,  for  he  cried  out.  '•  Stand  lirm,  men  I  We 
must  dri\"e  them  \yavV  or  <lie  here  !  '" 

His  xdicemade  me  tremhle.  h)r  it  revealed  my 
hither  as   a   stern   soldier. 

So,  as  I  sat  hy  his  side,  he  went  on  dnriiiL;-  the 
ni^ht.  'Idien  as  it  L^'rew  lii^ht  with  the  coming  sun. 
there   came  a   change  :    he    was   himself  once   more. 

lie  looked  into  our  faces  with  the  old  look  of 
love.  'Idle  darkness  had  i)assed  from  his  mincL 
The   linal   (diann'c   was  coming'. 

Again  he  reached  out  his  thin  hands  to  us,  say- 
ing, '"It 's  ehh  tide,  Uose.  I  see  m(_)re  (dearly  now. 
]\Iv  son.  mv  wife!      Dear  ones,  hless  you!"' 

And  tluMi  his  face  was  illumined  with  a  light 
that  seemed  of  that  other  worhh  as  he  said  in 
elear,  firm  toues  :  "  I  see  more  clearly  now,  my  son. 
I  see  tliat  the  l)lood  shed  hy  Xorthern  and  South- 
ern men  has  not  l)een  in  vain.  I  see  a  great,  united, 
ha[i[>v  ])eople."''  Then,  as  if  I'egarding  this  pro- 
phetic vision  AA'ith  a  look  of  joy  that  was  not  of 
earth,  this  l)rave  son  of  the  South,  my  dear,  dear 
father,  [)resseil  our  hands,  and  died  so  gently  that 
he  seemed  to  sleep. 


IN    THE    HOSPITAL.  390 

The  war  was  soon  over.  All  our  enemies  were 
friends  and  fellow-eonntrymen  again. 

Mj  mother  and  I,  after  grandfather's  death,  set- 
tled down  in  the  home  that  Avas  my  father's.  Un(de 
Koliert  with  Phil  and  his  wife  are  in  a  Ijeautiful 
home  near  ns. 

As  I  write  these  eoneluding  words  I  hear  my 
wife  (once  such  a  little  rebel  J,  who  is  putting  my 
son  Rufus  to  bed,  and  teaching  him  this  prayer : 
''(rod  bless  ])apa  and  mamma,  our  country  and  its 
glorious  tlag,  and  all  its  people  North  and  South, 
forevermore ! "  To  which  my  heart  responds, 
Ameu ! 


? 


y' 


RARE  BOOK 
COLLIXTFON 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT 

CHAPEL  HILL 

Wilmer 
502 


